 Chapter 33 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Manj, this Librivox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 33, Last Incidents of the Expedition Dr. Hayes and Norr were buffeted by a fierce storm soon after starting. They were over fifty miles from M. Dunnald and Jensen, only ten of which were traversed before they were obliged to encamp. But the storm howled and tossed the snow clouds about them, making it impossible to build the snow hut. After a brief halt and feeding the dogs with the last morsel of food which remained, they pushed on. The snow was deep, often nearly burying the dogs as they plunged along. The hammocks and rocks over which they climbed lay across their path, and the wind blew with an abated half fury. Yet they halted not, until the remaining forty or more miles were accomplished, and they tumbled into the hut of their companions. The dogs rolled themselves together on the snow the moment they were left, utterly exhausted. The weary men slept along sound sleep. When they awoke, a steaming pot of coffee and an abandoned breakfast awaited them. They had fasted thirty-four hours and travelled in the last twenty-two over forty miles, which the hammocks and deep snow made equal to double that distance of smooth sledging. The last few miles were made in a state of partial bewilderment, so their final safety was another of their many marked deliverances. The remaining run to the vessel had its daily perils and escapes. As they were approaching the American shore, they stepped across a crack on the ice. They had travelled but a short distance when they perceived that there was an impossible channel between them and the land ice. They ran back to recross the crack, and that had become twenty yards wide. They were, in fact, on an ice raft, and were sweeping helplessly out to sea. They had hardly collected their thoughts after this terrifying surprise before one of the shore corners of the raft struck a small grounded iceberg. And on this, as on a pivot, the outer edge swung towards the shore, struck its margin, allowed them to scamper off, and then immediately swung again into the open water and shot out to sea. The poor dogs, being insufficiently fed and necessarily overworked, now began to fail. Jensen's lameness compelling him to ride increased their burden. One died just before the party left the hammocks, and two soon after. A force having failed, the commander, thinking to shorten his misery, shot him. The ball only wounding him, he said up a terrible cry, at which his companions flew at him, tore him in pieces, and almost before his last howl had died away into dreary waste, they had eaten the flesh from his bones. They arrived at the schooner safely, after two months' absence, during which they had travelled thirteen hundred miles. The commander was cheered to learn that the party who returned under McCormick had reached Port Folk in safety. The whole ship's company were in good health. The vessel was immediately thoroughly examined and put in sailing order. As the summer came on, the birds, the green mosses, hardy little flowers, several species of moss and spiders, and even a yellow-winged butterfly appeared to greet its coming. The open water was daily coming nearer the schooner. While awaiting the loosening of its icy feathers, a boat's crew had an exciting walrus hunt. Dr. Hayes had been on a hilltop, which overlooked the bay, when the horse bellowing of a distant walrus saluted his ears. Drifting ice rafts were coming down the sound, on which great numbers of these monsters could be seen. He hurried to the vessel and called for volunteers. Soon a whaleboat was manned, and the men, armed with three rifles and a harpoon and line, dragged it to the open water, launched it, and rode into the midst of the drift ice. The first cake of ice which they approached contained a freight of twenty-four walruses, pretty well covering it. The rubberly, ugly-looking seahogs appeared as content as their very distant relatives of ours dies, while they huddled together and twisted for the sunniest spot and bellowed in one another's ears. Our hunters were all eager for the fight as they approached with muffled oars. But on coming near to the flow it was apparent that the hunt was not to be all fun, nor the fighting on one side only. The hides of the monsters looked like an iron plating, and were in fact an inch thick, smooth, hairless and tough, suggesting a good defensive ability, while their great tasks, projecting from a jaw of elephantine strength, hinted unpleasantly to the invaders that their antagonists were prepared for assault as well as defense. Very likely if one could have seen at that moment the countenances of our boat's crew, they would have shown more of a wish to be in the vessel's cabin than they would have cared to confess with their lips. But there was no flinching. There were two male walruses in the herd, huge, fierce-looking fellows, which roused up a moment to scan the strangers, and then, giving each other a punch in the face with their tasks, stretched out again upon the ice to sleep. In this walrus party there were, besides the two fathers, mothers with children of various ages, from the little ones of four hundred pounds, to the young folks. Of course they were a loving happy group. The boat came within a few times its length of the ice-croft. Miller, an old wailman, was in the bow of the boat with a harpoon. Hayes, Nor, and Jensen stood in the stern, with their rifles levelled each at his selected victim, while the oarsmen bent forward to their oars. At the ward the rifles cracked, and the oarsmen at the same moment shut the boat into the midst of the startled walrus. Jensen hid one of the males in the neck, not probably doing him much harm. Hayes' balls struck the other bull in the head, at which he roared lustily. Nor killed a baby walrus dead, but he disappeared from the raft with the rest, probably pushed off by his mama. When the old fellow, which was wounded by the commander, rolled into the water, Miller planted his harpoon in him with unerring skill, and the line attached spun out over the gun-wail with fearful velocity. There were a few moments of suspense, and then up came the herd, a few yards from the boat. The wounded bull with the harpoon among them. They uttered one wild, united shriek, and answering shrieks from thousands of startled walruses. On the walrus-laden ice-crofts, for miles around, filled the air. It was an agonized cry for help, and the answering cry was, There was a simultaneous splash from the ice-crofts, and the hosts, as if by the bugle-call, came rushing on, heads erect, and uttering the defiant, hook, hook, hook. They came directly at the boat, surrounding it, and blackening the waters with their numbers. The wounded bull, attached still to Miller's line, led the attack. The hunters had aroused foemen worthy of their steel, and they must now fight or die. It seemed to be the purpose of the walruses to get their tusks over the side of the boat, and so easily tear it to pieces or sink it, and then, having its audacious crew in the water, make short work of them. As they came on, Miller in the bow, pricked them in the face with his lens. The rovers pushed them back with their oars, while Hayes, Jensen and Nor, sent, as fast as they could load and fire, rifle balls crashing through their heads. At one time a huge leader had come within a few feet of the boat. Hayes and Jensen had just fired, and were loading, but Nor was just in time to salute him with a ball. The men were becoming weary, while the walrus assaulting column was constantly supplied with fresh droops. The situation was now critical, when, as if to crush his enemy and end the conflict in victory on his side, a walrus goliath, with tusks three feet long, led on a solid column of undismayed warriors. Two guns had just been fired as before. His terrible weapons were fearfully near the gun whale, when Nor's gun came to the rescue. Its muzzle was so near his open mouth, that the ball killed him instantly, and he sunk like lead. This sent consternation through the walrus' ranks. They all do at once, and when they came up, they were considerable distance off, their tails to their foes, and retreating with a wild shriek. The battle was ended, and the saucy explorers were victors. The sea in places was red with blood, their harpooned bull and one other were carried astrophies to the vessel. On the 12th of July the schooner floated, after an ice imprisonment of ten months. The Eskimo seeing that the white friends were about to leave them, gathered on the shore in sorrowful interest. They had been the receivers of gifts great in their estimation, and they had rendered the strangers no small favors, especially in the use of their dogs, without which no excursions of importance could have been made. Kalutuna actually wept on parting with Dr. Hayes. He had enjoyed under his patronage the Eskimo paradise, plenty to eat, plenty sleep, no work, no hunt. He spoke feelingly of the fading away of his people. Come back, he said, and save us, come soon or we shall be all gone. He had reason to express these fears concerning his people. Since Dr. Cain left, 34 had died, and there had been in the same time only 19 births. There seemed to be in all the settlements from Cape York to Itach only a hundred. The explorers bid adieu to port folk on the 14th, and sailed away to the west side of Smith Sound, and reached a point about ten miles south of Cape Isabella. The hope was entertained by the commander that he might work his way with the vessel north through the now loosening ice over which he had just been travelling with sledges, get through even Kennedy Channel to the open sea on the shore of which he had so lately stood, and then sail away to the north pole. What a stimulating thought, but he found the schooner ice-battered and weakened by the nebs she had experienced. It was unequal to the required fight with the defiant pack which everywhere filled the sound. So the explorers turned homeward. They arrived at Upernavik on the 12th of August after many exciting incidents, but no accident. Here they learned the startling news of the commencement of the Great Rebellion. During their absence President Lincoln had been inaugurated. The black cloud of war had settled heavily over the whole country, and the bloody battle of Bull Run had been fought. They were now to return home and transfer their interest in fighting ice-packs, bergs and polar bears to the conflicts of civil war. End of chapter 33 Chapter 34 of North Pole Voyages by the Harrier A. Mudge Chapter 34 Something New While the civilized world were awaiting with deep interest the results of the search for Sir John Franklin and while learned geographers and practical navigators to the regions of cold were devising new methods of search for him. John Engraver was working out a problem in reference to this great enterprise, peculiarly his own. Without special educational advantages, without the resources of wealth or influential friends, but with the inspiration of one feeling a divine call to the undertaking, he matured his plans and began to publish them abroad. He seems to have at once imparted his own enthusiasm to others. The mayor of his own city, Cincinnati, the governor and senator of his own state, Ohio, the latter, the eminent Salman P. Chase, late Chief Justice of the United States, became his patrons. Coming East, many of the great and wise men of our large cities gave him an attentive hearing and not a few encouraged his project. The princely merchant, Henry Grinnell, who had already done so much in the Franklin search, took him at once into kindly sympathy. From New York he went to New London, from the old whalemen at least, from individuals of them of marked character and large experience in Arctic navigation, he obtained encouraging words. His plan of search, which thus so readily commended itself was this. He would go into the region where it was now known that Franklin and some of his men had died. He would live with the Eskimo, learn their language, adopt their habits of life, and thus learn all that they knew of the history of the ill-fated expedition. He assumed that many of its men might yet be alive and if they were, the natives would know it. Know where they were and could guide him to them. To prepare himself for this work he became conversant with Arctic literature, learning all that the books on the subject taught. He applied himself closely to the study of the practical science bearing on his enterprise, learning the use of its instruments. He sought interviews and correspondence with returned explorers and whalemen. In fact, his heart was in the work with a downright enthusiasm. The marked features of his plan seemed to be two. It was inexpensive and new. As to the manning of his expedition, he proposed to go alone. As to vessels he asked none, he only asked to be conveyed to the proposed Eskimo country and to be left with its natives. We might name a third attractive feature of this plan, one which always inspires interest. It was bold, bordering on the audacious. We need hardly say to our readers that the name of this new candidate from Arctic Pearls and Owners was Charles Francis Hall, a name now greatly honoured and lamented. Mr. Hall was born in Rochester, New Hampshire, in 1821, where he worked a while at the blacksmith's trade, but left both the trade and his native place in early life, for the Queen City of the West. The result of Mr. Hall's enthusiastic appeals was an offer by the firm of William St. Haven, Whaleship owners of New London, to convey him and his outfit in their bark George Henry to his point of operations and if ever desired to give him the same free passage home in any of their ships. Though George Henry was going, of course, after Whales and proposed thus to convey him as an obliging incident of the trip. This proposal was made in the early spring of 1860. On the 29th of May he sailed. His outfit was simple and had the appearance of a private romantic excursion. It consisted of a good-sized, staunch whaleboat built for his special use, a sledge, a few scientific instruments, a rifle, six double-barreled shotguns, a colt revolver, and the ammunition supposed to be necessary for a long separation from the source of supply. A start was given him in a small store of provisions. Beyond that he was to supply himself. A tolerable supply of trinkets was added as a basis of trade with the natives. But once this miniature exploring expedition required was given largely by Mr. Grinnell. The George Henry was accompanied by a tender, a small schooner named the Rescue, having already an Arctic fame. The officers and crew of both vessels numbered 29 under command of Captain C.O. Buddington. We have spoken of Mr. Hall as the only man of his exhibition. He had, after all, one companion. The previous year Captain Buddington had brought home an Eskimo by the name of Kudlago, who was now returning to his fatherland and to his wife and children. Upon him Mr. Hall largely depended as an interpreter, a friend and guide in his work. The run of the George Henry to the Greenland coast was made with but one marked incident. That was, to Mr. Hall, a very sad one, giving him the first empathic lesson in the uncertainty of his most carefully devised schemes. It was the death and burial at sea of Kudlago. He had left New London in good health, taken cold in the fogs of Newfoundland, and declined rapidly. He prayed fervently to be permitted to see his wife and children. Only that, and he would die content. He inquired daily, while confined to his birth, if any ice was in sight. His last words were, The Greenland shore was just in sight when he departed, and his home and family were 300 miles away. The George Henry and her tender, the rescue, sailed north along the Greenland coast, as far as Holsteinburg, where Mr. Hall purchased six Eskimo dogs. The vessel then stood south-west across Davis Strait, and made, August 8th, a snag harbor, which Mr. Hall called Greenal Bay, a little north of what is known as Robisher Strait. Here Mr. Hall was to land and commence his Eskimo life, alone and far away from a Christian home, while the vessel went about its business capturing whales. His feelings on the voyage are indicated by the following extract from his diary. A good run with a fair breeze yesterday. Approaching the north axis of the earth, I, nearing the goal of my fondest wishes, everything relating to the Arctic zone is deeply interesting to me. I love the snows, the ices, the icebergs, the fauna and the flora of the north. I love the circling sun, the long day, the arctic night, when the soul can commune with God in silent and reverential awe. I am on a mission of love. I feel to be in the performance of a duty I owe to mankind, oneself and God. Thus feeling I'm strong at heart, full of faith, ready to do or die, in the calls I have espoused. How he felt when actually engaged in his mission of love, we shall see. We must not, however, think of Mr. Hall in a region comparable to that, which included the winter quarters of Cain and Hayes in the expeditions we have just described. They were at least twelve degrees farther north, Mr. Hall being south of the Arctic circle, so that his winter nights were shorter and milder. His present field of operation was on the coast visited by the whale ships, and were they at times wintered. Besides, natives had been for many years in contact with white men, and were in some respect more agreeable companions. He will, therefore, as we follow him, lead us into new scenes of peculiar interest and show us novel features in the character of the Eskimo. The whale ship Black Eagle, Captain Allen, lay in Grinnell Bay on the arrival of our voyagers, and the captain soon appeared on the deck of the George Henry, with several Eskimo. One of these natives named Oogarung, especially attracted Mr. Hall's attention, he was intelligent, possessing strong lines of character and a marked physical development. He had spent a year on a visit to the United States. Speaking of New York, he said with a sailor's emphasis, no good, too much horse, too much house, too much white people, woman, ah, woman great many, good. Oogarung will become a familiar acquaintance. Mr. Hall had been giving special attention on the voyage across Davis Strait to his dogs, and they were now to become a chief dependents. He fed them on capylin or dried fish. One day he called them all around him, each in his assigned place, to receive in turn his fish. Now there was one young shrewd dog, Babacock, who had not heard or had never cared to heed. The proverb that honesty is the best policy. He said to himself, if I can get two of the fish while the other dogs get but one, it will be a nice thing to do. So taking his place near the head of the row, he was served with his capylin. Then, slipping out, he crowded between the dogs farther down, and with a very innocent look awaited his turn. His master thought this so sharp in young Babacock, that he pretended not to see the trick, and yield him a fish as if he had received none. On going the round again, his master found him near the head of the row, and then at the foot, so the rogue obtained Benjamin's portion. Seeing his success, he winked his knowing eye, as much as to say, ain't I the smartest dog in the pack. But Babacock had entered on a rough road with many turns, as all rogues do. After going round several times, during which the trick was a success, Mr. Hall skipped the trickster altogether. It mattered not what place he crowded into, there was no more fish for him. The option was that he received many less than did his companions. Never did a dog look more ashamed. From that time he kept his place when fish were distributed. Mr. Hall, making the vessel his home, made frequent visits ashore, and received many Eskimo visitors on board, and was thus becoming acquainted with the people. An early visitor was Hooker Jabin, wife of Kudlago, accompanied by her son. She had learned in her tent that her anxiously awaited husband had been left in the deep sea. She entered the cabin and looked at her husband's white friends, and at the chest which contained his personal goods with deep emotion. But when Captain Buddington opened the chest, the tears flowed freely, and when she, in taking out things, came to those Kudlago had obtained in the state for herself and her little girl, she sat down, buried her face in her hands, and wept with deep grief. She soon after went ashore with her son to weep alone. Another very marked character was Pauluyer, or as the waitman called him, Blind George. He was now about forty years of age and had been blind nearly ten years from the effects of a severe sickness. To this blindness was added domestic sorrow. His wife, Nikuja, was very kind to him for five years after his loss of sight, sharing their consequent poverty. But Ugarung, who had already several wives, offered her a place in his tent as his household wife, the place of honour in estymal esteem. The offer was tempting, for Ugarung was a mighty hunter, and rich at all times in blubber, in furs and skin tents and snow huts. So she left poor George, taking with her their little daughter called Kukuyer. This child became a pet with Ugarung as she was with her blind father. While the George Henry lay at Grinnell Bay, Mr. Hall talked much with the masters of the Whaleships and was the most intelligent of the natives concerning his proposed journey to King William's land. This was a far away region where the remains of the Franklin expedition had been found. He proposed to secure the company of one or more estymal and make an attempt to reach it with a dog sledge and to take up his abode with its natives in search of information of the lost ones. But both his wife and Eskimo advisors agreed that it was too late in the season to begin such a journey. Mr. Hall would then take the whale boat built for him, man it was natives, and make the attempt by water. But this was deemed impractical until spring. So he decided to make his home on board the vessel so long as she remained on the coast and pursue his study of the Eskimo language and his survey of the region of country with this home as a base of operations. On his return from one of his inland excursions with Kudlago's son, whom the whites called captain, he saw his widow, apart from all the people, weeping for her great bereavement. Her son ran to her and tried to comfort her, but she would not be comforted. When Mr. Hall approached, she pointed to the spot where their tent was pitched when Kudlago left for the United States. She also showed him the bones of a whale which he had assisted in capturing. Soon after this the widow visited the vessel with her daughter, Kimilu, who had been the idol of her father. She looked sad on the mention of her father's name, but childlike her eyes gleamed with joy on seeing the fine things his chest contained for her. Captain Bee's wife had sent her a pretty red dress, necktie, mittens, belt, and other like valuables of little white girls. But Mr. Hall suggested that Kimilu's introduction to the dress of civilization should be preceded by soap and water. The process of arriving at the little girls through layers of dirt was very slow. When this was done, her kind friend Hall took a very coarse comb and commenced combing her hair. This had never been done before, and of course the comb pulled in spite of the care of the operator, but Kimilu bore it bravely. Her locks were filled with moss, greasy bits of seal, and disgusting reindeer hairs, besides other things both active and numerous. A full hour was spent on the hair, but when the comb went through it easily, then the little girl ran her fingers into it and braided quickly a tag on each side of her head. She then drew these through brass rings which Mr. Hall had given her. Her eschema of fur trousers and coat were thrown off, and the now clean and really beautiful girl put on the red dress. Her happiness would have been complete had her father been there to share her joy. Mr. Hall's kindly nature led him to study the natives in these incidents and to record them in his journals. Ugarg was one time in the cabin when Mr. Hall had put a few small balls of mercury on a sheet of white paper. It was a new article to the eschema, and he tried to pick it up with his thumb on finger, but it escaped his grasp. His efforts would scatter it over the sheet in small globules, and then as he lifted the corners of the paper it would run together, and Ugarg would commence catching it with new vigor. He continued his efforts for a full half hour. I'm used at first, but finally losing his temper he gave it up, exclaiming petulantly that there was an evil spirit in it. Blind George became a constant visitor. At one time Mr. Hall gave him a much worn coat, showing one of the several holes in it. George immediately took a needle and bringing his tongue to the aid of his hands, threaded it, and mended all of the rants very neatly. At another time Mr. Hall put into George's hand a piece of steel with a magnet attached. The way the steel flew from his hand to the magnet amazed him. At first he seemed to think it was not really so, but when he clearly felt the steel leap from his fingers he threw both steel and magnet violently upon the floor. But feeling he was not hurt and that some little girls laughed at him he tried it again more deliberately and was better satisfied. Mr. Hall next gave him a paper of needles, desiring him to bring the magnet near them. He did so and when the needles flew from his hand by the attraction he sprung to his feet as if an electric current had touched him and the needles were scattered in every direction over the floor. He declared that Mr. Hall was an Angikok. On the 14th of August another wailing vessel belonging to the owners of the George Henry arrived at Grinnell Bay. Her name was Georgiana, Captain Tyson, though there were now four vessels near each other, the rescue and Black Eagle besides those just named. There were social merry times, but Captain Buddington having built a hut here that some of his men might remain to fish took his vessel farther south for winter quarters into a bay separated from Robisher Bay on the south by only a narrow strip of land. This Mr. Hall named Field Bay. Here snugly hid an inlet of its upper waters the vessels proposed to enter. The Eskimo were not long in finding the new anchorage of the Whites and in a few days a fleet of kayaks containing seven families appeared. Among them was Kudlago's oldest daughter, now married to a native, the sailors called Johnny Bull. She had not heard of her father's death and stepped on deck elated at the thought of meeting him. Where is my father, she inquired of Ugarn's wife. When she was tenderly told the sad story of his death, she wept freely. Mr. Hall was at once busy visiting the Tupiks, some are tents made of skins pitched by the natives near the shore. He also rode to the islands in various directions, generally accompanied by one or more Eskimo. On one of these visits to an island was a boy, he had a narrow escape. After several hours' ramble they returned to the landing where they had left their boat fastened to a rock. The tide had risen and the boat was dancing on the waves out of reach. Here was a fix. They were far away from the vessel, the night cold and dark was coming on, and they were without shelter. But necessity sharpens one's wits. After some delay and perplexity Mr. Hall hit upon this plan. He took the sealskin strings from his boots and the strings by which various scientific instruments were attached to his person, tied them together and thus made quite a long and strong line. To this he tied a moderate-sized stone. Holding one end of the line in his hand, he tossed the stone into the boat and gently drew it to him, jumped into it and was soon at the vessel. If Mr. Hall had not been a green boatman he would not have fastened his boat below high water mark when the tide was coming in. He probably did not again. One day the crew of the Henry captured a whale in the bay and the Eskimo joined with others in towing the monster to the ship. In one of the boats was an Eskimo woman with a babe. She laid her child in the bow of the boat and pulled an oar was the strongest of the white men. Before they reached the vessel the wind blew agale, the sea ran high and at times the spray shot into the air and came down in plentiful showers into the boat. The mother cast anxious glances at her child and as if it was for its life rode with giant strength. At last the prize was safely moored to the Henry and the natives were rewarded with generous strips of its black skin which they ate voraciously, raw and warm from the animal. They carried portions of it to their tubics on shore for future use. This skin is about three-fourths of an inch thick and in even Mr. Hall's estimation is good eating when raw but better sourced in vinegar. Soon after this Captain Tyson brought the Georgiana round into Field Bay and the crews of the two vessels were often together when a whale made its appearance, a circumstance sometimes the occasion of strife when he is captured. One day Smith, an officer of the Henry, fastened a harpoon in a whale and was devising means to secure his prey. Captain Tyson, who was newer in his boat, killed the monster with his lenses and without a word left Smith to enjoy the pleasure of taking it to his vessel. The generous act was appreciated on board the Henry. On the 26th of December a terrible storm commenced causing the boats which were cruising for whales to scud home. The three vessels, the Henry, Rescue and Georgiana, were anchored near each other and near an island towards which the wind was blowing. It was about noon when the storm began and as the day declined the wind increased bringing on its wings a cloud of snow. When the night came on it was intensely dark and the waves rose higher and higher as driven by the tempest. They rolled swiftly by and dashed upon the rocky shore. The vessels laboured heavily in the billows and strained at their anchors now dipping their bows deep in the water and rising up the top of the crested wave and leaping again into the trough of the sea as if impatient of restraint and eager to rush upon the rocks to their own destruction. The roar of the sea and the howling of the winds through the shrouds were appalling to all on board while they awaited with breathless interest the integrity of the anchors on which their lives depended. As the night wore on the watch on deck peering through the darkness saw the dim outlines of the rescue steadily and slowly moving towards the shore. She dragged her anchors where the fearful wards which passed in whispers through the George Henry but all breathed easier to hear the report from the watch soon after yet she had come to a pause nearly abreast of the Henry. About midnight the storm put forth all the fury of its power and the small anchor of the Georgiana gave way and the others went plowing along their ocean beds and as the vessel neared the island her destruction and the loss of all on board seemed certain. The endangered craft worried round the point of rocks pounding against them as she went and reached smoother and safer waters where her anchors remained firm. The ghostly looking forms of her men were soon after seen on the island to which they had escaped. In the meantime the men on the Henry were in constant fear that their vessel would be dashed upon rocks. Just as the morning was breaking the rescue broke away and went broadside upon the island. With a crash the breakers hurled her against the rocks and seemed to bury her in their white foam. She was at once a hopeless wreck but her crew still clung bravely to her. When the morning light had fully come at the first lull in the storm while yet the waves rolled with unabated fury a whale boat was lowered into the sea from the stern of the Henry with a strong line attached and the mate rogers and a seamen stepped into it. Cautiously and skillfully it was guided to the stern of the rescue. Into it her men were taken and drawn safely to the Henry. All were saved. A shout of joy mingled with the tumult of the elements. The Henry safely out-rode the storm. The Georgiana was not seriously injured and her men returned to her and sailed away for other winter quarters. The rescue was a complete wreck and what was a stunning blow to the enterprise of Mr. Hall his expedition boat in which was an Eskimo crew he had hoped to reach the far away land of his lone sojourn and search for the Franklin men was totally wrecked too. What now should we do? That was to him the question of questions. One thing he resolved not to do he would not abandon his mission. Captain Buddington thought at first that he might spare him one of the ship's boats in which to reach King William's land but on careful inquiry he found that the only one he could part with was a rotten and untrustworthy so waiting and watching became his present duty. End of Chapter 35 Chapter 36 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge the Slippery Vox recording is in the public domain Chapter 36 The Aurora Mr. Hall had an eye for the beautiful in nature The Aurora deeply impressed him inspiring feelings of awe and reverence it will be noticed that explorers in the low latitude of Robesher Bay are treated to displays of the Aurora on a scale of magnificence and beauty never seen in the high latitudes of the winter quarters of Dr. Cain and Hayes. Night after night through the months of October, November and December Mr. Hall's sensitive nature was in raptures at the wonderful sights the heavens were aglow the forms of brightness and colors of every hue changed with the rapidity of fleecy clouds driven before the wind before the mind had comprehended the grandeur of one scene it had changed into another of seeming greater beauty of form, color and brightness thousands of such changes occurred while he gazed no wonder he exclaims who but God could conceive such infinite scenes of glory who but God execute them painting the heavens in such a gorgeous display again he exclaims it seems to me as if the very doors of heaven have opened tonight so mighty and beaches and marvels were the waves of golden light which swept across the Azure deep breaking forth unknown into floods of wondrous glory God made his wonderful works to be remembered Mr. Hall had been on deck several times witnessing the enrapturing display and had returned into the cabin to go to bed when the captain shouted down the companion way come above Hall at once the world is on fire Mr. Hall hastened on deck he says there was no sun, no moon yet the heavens were flooded with light even ordinary print could be read on deck yes, flooded with rivers of light and such light light all but inconceivable the golden hues predominated but in rapid succession prismatic colors leaped forth we looked, we saw and we trembled for even as we gazed the whole belt of Aurora began to be alive with flashes then each pile or bank of light became myriads some now dropping down the great pathway or belt others springing up others leaping with lightning flash from one side while more as quickly passed into the vacated space some twisting themselves into folds and twining with others like enormous serpents and all these movements as quick as the eye could follow it seemed as though there was a struggle with these heavenly lights to reach and occupy the dome above our heads then the whole arch above became crowded down, down it came nearer and nearer it approached us sheets of golden flames corresponding while leaping from the auroral belt seemed as if met in their course by some mighty agency that turned them into the colors of the rainbow while the auroral fires seemed to be descending upon us one of our number exclaimed hark, hark such a display as if a warfare were going on among the buttious lights seemed impossible without noise but all was silent after the watchers amazed at what they saw retired to the cabin they very naturally commenced a lively conversation on what they had witnessed captain buddington declared that though he had spent most of his time for 11 years in the northern regions he had never witnessed so grand and beautiful a scene and he added in an earnest tone to tell you the truth friend Hall I do not care to see the like again in November Mr. Hall became acquainted with two remarkable eskimos whom we shall often meet their names were Eberbing and his wife Tukulito but were known among the white people as Joe and Hannah they had been taken to England in 1853 and lionized there for two years they had visited the great and good of that land at their homes and had aptly learned many of the refinements of civilization Queen Victoria had honored them as an audience and they had dined with Prince Albert Joe declared that the queen was pretty yes quite pretty and the prince was good very good they made their visit on shipboard in a full blown English dress but when Mr. Hall returned their visit into their to pick on shore they were in the Eskimo costume yet Tukulito busied herself with her knitting during his call she said as they conversed I feel very sorry to say that many of the wailing people are bad making the Inuits bad too they swear very much and make our people swear I wish they would not do so Americans swear a great deal more and worse than the English I wish no one would swear it is a very bad practice I believe Tukulito's spirit an example had done much to improve her people especially the women these many of them had adopted her habit of dressing her hair and of cleanliness of person and abode in her and her husband whom we shall meet often we shall seize Eskimo as modified by a partial Christian civilization Mr. Hall made frequent visits to the Eskimo village on shore mingling with the people conforming to their habits and studying their character their summer skin covered huts, tuppics had now given way to the igloos, the snow houses essentially like those we have before seen we will accompany Mr. Hall in a visit made in October he found on creeping into a hut a friend whom he knew as a pilot and boatman his name was Kujisse he was sitting in the midst of a group of women drinking with a gusto hot seal blood our white visitor joined them and pronounced the dish excellent on going out he was met by blind George Mr. Hall, Mr. Hall shouted the blind man on hearing Mr. Hall's voice there was a pensive earnestness in the call which arrested his attention Ugarng came today, continued George he came today, my little cuckoo here, way go she here now, speak'em Ugarng my little picanini, way go, speak'em the facts were these Ugarng, who as we have stated had married George's wife and taken with the mother his little daughter was at the village attended by the latter George, who was very fond of the child desired her company for a while Mr. Hall did, of course, speak'em Ugarng and the darling cuckoo here were soon seen in happy intimacy with her father Mr. Hall's attention was attracted by an excited crowd who were listening to the herring of a young man he was evidently master of the situation for at one moment his audience clenched their fists and raved like madmen and then, under another touch of his power they were calm and thoughtful or melted to tears he was an Angacook and was going through a series of uncouthings or incantations his howlings and gesticulations were not unlike those of the heathen priests of the east and of the medicine men of our Indians on seeing Mr. Hall the Angacook left his snow platform from which he had been speaking and ran to him with the blundest smiles and all-honeyed wards he put his arm in his and invited him into his tent or place of worship, as it might be called others ran ahead and it was well filled with worshipers Kujassi, who was passing at the time with water for the ship on a wave of the Angacook's hand set his pale down and followed all faithful Eskimo in this region obey the Angacook if he sees one smoking and signifies that he wishes the pipe the smoker deposits it in the Angacook's pocket when in the tent the Angacook placed Kujassi on one side and Mr. Hall facing him on the other side now commenced the service the Angacook began a rapid clapping of his hands lifting them at times above his head then passing them round in every direction and thrusting them into the faces of the people muttering the wild, wild, incoherent expressions the clapping of his hands was intermitted by a violent clapping of the chest on which he sat, first on the top, then on the sides and end at times he would cease and sit statue-like for some moments during which the silence of death pervaded the audience then the clapping and gesticulations broke force with increased violence now and then he paused and stared into the furthest recess of the tent with the fiery eyes and the hideous countenance of a demon at the right time to hateen the effect the wizard, by a quick sign or sharp word ordered Kujassi to fix his eyes on this point of the tent then on that, intimating in mysterious undertones then in such places Kudlago's spirit shook the skin covering Kujassi, though one of the most muscular and intelligent of the natives obeyed with trembling promptness while the prepuse Svet stood in drops upon his nose Eskimo perspired freely only on the nose and his countenance beamed with intense excitement the climax was at hand the Angacook's words began to be plain enough for Mr. Hall's ears Kudlago's spirit was troubled would the white man please give it rest one of his double-barreled guns would do it white man, white man give Kudlago's spirit rest give the double-barreled gun the cunning wizard but Mr. Hall, who, though brimful of love had been a sober-looking listener was not to be caught with his chaff except in his own interest he whispers to Kujassi would the Angacook be a good man to go with me in the spring to King William's land? yes, was the reply then Mr. Hall turned to the Angacook and said aloud if you go with me next spring on my explorations you shall have one of my best guns thinking the gift was to be given immediately his crafty reverence shouted thanked Mr. Hall through his arms about his neck and danced with an air of triumph about the tent seeming to say as he looked upon his amazed followers I have charmed a Kabloonach, white man Mr. Hall tried to set him right about the terms of the gift that it was to be when he had served him in the spring but he would understand it as he would have it his joy found a fullness of expression when pointing to his two wives he said to Mr. Hall one shall be yours, take your choice he was disgusted when the white man told him that he had a wife and that Kabloonach wanted but one wife End of Chapter 36 Chapter 37 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Maj this Librivox recording is in the public domain Chapter 37 The Dying Eskimo Christmas and New Years, 1861 were not forgotten as holidays by the sojourners in the regions of cold and ice Mr. Hall gave his friend to Kulito a Bible as a memento of December 25 she was much pleased and at once spelled out the title page Holy Bible Mr. Hall having heard that an Eskimo named Nukerton was seriously sick, invited to Kulito to visit her with him sitting down with the sick one with Tukulito as an interpreter Mr. Hall spoke to her of Jesus and their resurrection while many of her friends stood listening with intense interest Tukulito went over her sick friend weeping and continued to talk about God, Christ and Heaven after Mr. Hall had ceased Mr. Hall visited the sick one daily administering to her bodily and spiritual bonds going to see her on the force of January he found that a new snow hut had been built for the dying one and her female friends had carried her into it opening to pass her in, a hole on the backside it was at once her dying chamber and her tomb for this purpose it was built in conformity to the Eskimo usage he found Nukerton in her new quarters of stainless snow on a bed of snow covered with skins happy as a change though she knew that she had been brought there to die and to die alone as was the custom of her people Mr. Hall proposed to carry her to die on board the ship but even Tukulito objected to this it was better she should die alone such was the custom of their fathers Mr. Hall remained to watch alone was dying one but on his leaving her igloo to do an errand at a neighboring tent her friends sealed up its entrance he threw back the blocks of snow piled against it and crept in Nukerton was not dead she breezed feebly the lamp burned dimly and the cold was intense the solemn stillness of the midnight hour had come sound of footsteps were heard and a rustling at the entrance busy hands were fastening it up not knowing perhaps that Mr. Hall was within stop stop he shouted and all was silent as the grave come in he again said Kudlu Nukerton's cousin and a woman came in they remained a few moments and left Mr. Hall was alone again and remained until the spirit of the dying woman departed he gently closed her eyes laid out the body as if for Christian burial closed up the igloo and departed Mr. Hall knew cases later in his stay with these people in which the dying were for some time alone before the vital spark was extinguished the only attendance that the sick have is the howling and memory of the Anglicox who are sometimes women they give no medicine Mr. Hall made several sledge excursions with his inuit friends one to Cornelius Grinnell Bay was full of thrilling incidents of storms, of perils by the breaking up suddenly of the ice on which he had encamped and one showing the wolfish rapacity of Eskimo dogs he also had a bear chase and capture but these, though full of exciting interest are similar to those of other explorers the Eskimos themselves with all their knowledge of the ice and storms have many desperate adventures a party of them was once busily engaged in spearing walrus when the flow broke up and they went out to sea and remained three months on their ice raft the walrus were plenty and they had a good time of it and returned safely we have given our readers an incident relating to Mr. Hall's dog, Barbacark a not very creditable incident it will be remembered so far as that dog's discernment of moral right is concerned but then we must remember that he and dogs are not supposed to know much in that respect Barb, as we will call him for shortness appears again in our story in a way which shows that he was very knowing about some matters at least one day, at nine in the morning a party of the ship's company attended by the native Kujasi started for an excursion into Frobisher Bay when well out of sight of the vessel a blinding storm arose making further progress both difficult and dangerous Kujasi counselled an immediate construction of a snow hat and a halt until the storm subsided which was the right thing to do but the wild leader ordered a return march the dogs, as they generally will with a fierce wind blowing in their face floundered about in reckless insubordination their leader, a strong animal finally assumed his leadership and dragged them for a while towards some islands just appearing in sight but Barb, set back in his harness pricked up his ears and took a deliberate survey of the situation to be sure he could see only a few rods in any direction but his mind was made up he turned his head away from the islands and drew with such vigor and decision that all both men and dogs yielded to his guidance through their drifts and in the face of bewildering clouds of snow which darkened their path he brought the party straight to the ship a few hours more of exposure and all would have perished young Barb was a brave hunter as well as a skillful guide on a bright morning in March they look out on the deck of the Henry shouted down the gangway that the herd of deer were in sight immediately the excitement of men and dogs was at fever heat the dogs however did not get the news until Kujase had crept out and from behind an island had fired upon the deer his bow brought down no game but the report of the gun called out Barb with the whole pack of wolfish dogs at his heels in full pursuit of the flying frightened deer the fugitives made torturous tracks darting behind the islands now this way and then off in another direction but Barb struck across their windings along the straight line towards the point at which they were aiming while the rest of the dogs followed their tracks and so fell behind Kujase returned to the vessel the hope which just now was indulged of a venison dinner was given up and the affair was nearly forgotten except that some anxiety was felt lest the dogs should come to harm in their long and reckless pursuit about noon Barb came on board having his mouth and body besmeared with blood he ran to this one and then to that looking besiegingly into their faces and then running to the gangway stairs where he stopped and looked back as much as to say ain't you coming? do come I'll show you something worth seeing his strange movements were reported to Mr. Hall in the cabin but being busy writing he took no notice of it one of the men having occasion to go toward the shore Barb followed him but finding that he did not go in the right direction he whined his disappointment and started out upon the flow and then turned and said as plainly as a dog could speak come on, this is the way a party from the ship determined now to follow Barb led them a mile northward then, leaving them to follow his footprints in the snow he scampered off two miles in a western direction this brought the men to a near island and there's a shelter of which they found the dogs Barb was sitting at the head of a slaughtered deer and his companions squatting round as watchful sentinels the deer's throat had been cut with Barb's teeth the jugular vein being severed as was a knife the roots of the tongue was bits of the old windpipe had been eaten the blood sipped up but nothing more several crows were pecking away at the Kerkas, unforbidden by Barb who petted crows as his inferiors Barb wagged his tail and shook his head as the men came up and said in expressive dog language see here, now, didn't I tell you so? the disturbed and bloodstained snow around showed that the deer had fought bravely one of his legs was somewhat broken in the bloody conflict which incident might have determined Barb's victory the men skinned the deer and bore the skin and dissected parts to the vessel End of Chapter 37 Chapter 38 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 38 Cunning Hunters Our sketch of Mr. Hall's Eskimo Life brings us to the early summer of 1861 he had made many excursions in and about from Becher and Field Bays which we have not noted their results were mainly valuable for the relics obtained of the visits here of the famous old explorer Frobisher nearly 300 years ago there were, too, he ascertained traditions among the natives of these visits as well as that of Perry, nearly 50 years before which so well accorded with the known facts as to show the reliability of such traditions an incident occurred during one of these excursions which illustrates the deceitful effect of refraction in the Northern atmosphere he landed on a headland in Frobisher Bay and secured an enchanting view of land and sea points of historic interest were under his eye and nature was closed with a wild, arctic beauty but an object of still more thrilling interest comes in view, a steamer yes, there is her hull and smoke pipe all very unmistakable see, she tacks, now this way, then that working her way, no doubt, towards the land on which he stands Mr. Hall ran to the camp and told the good news to Kujasee and Ibirbing his companions his mind was fairly bewitched with visions of news from civilization, from his country and perhaps letters from his dear ones of the family circle each shouldered his loaded gun and walked round to the point on the shore towards which the steamer was coming they would make a loud report with their guns and compel those on board to notice them when they reached the spot, there was no steamer the Eskimo looked with blank amazement and turned inquiringly towards Mr. Hall had she sailed away? no, that was impossible it was only that rock yonder half buried in snow there it does even now look like a steamer wait a while no, it no more looks like a steamer than it looks like a cow it is a cruel cell it will be recollected that the George Henry had made her winter quarters in a little nook in Field Bay called Rescue Harbor from the his home in her cabin Mr. Hall was going forth on his explorations but the whalers had made a whaling depot on a cape of Robisher Bay which commanded a view of its waters and of the waters of Davis Strait here they watched for whales or made excursions after them to this depot Mr. Hall made an excursion with Kujasi about the middle of June on their way over the ice Kujasi gave illustrations of two Eskimo methods of taking seal that were very peculiar the dogs scented the seal and broke into a furious run making the sledge spin over the ice soon Kujasi perceived him lying with his head near his hole on the instant the dogs and their drivers set up a vociferous startling gale the seal lifted up his head frightened almost out of his wits so that the dogs were within a few rods of him before he so far recovered his senses as to plunge into his hole and escape Kujasi said that only young seals are so caught in this case fright had nearly cost the poor seal his life at another time Kujasi saw a seal sunning himself and lying as is their habit near his hole the hunter stopped the sledge, took his gun and keeping back the dogs lay down and drew himself along upon his breast making at the same time a peculiar plaintive sound varied in intonation to this seal talk as the Eskimo term it the animal listens and is charmed into a pleasant persuasion that some loving friend is near he looks, listens and then lays his head languidly upon the ice so the wily hunter approaches within easy range the rifle cracks and the fatal ball goes through the vitals of the confiding seal thus seals like men sometimes die of alarm and are sometimes taken in the flatterer's snare Mr. Hall found the whale depot a busy place numerous tents of the white men and Eskimo were grouped together in the midst of which on a substantial flagstaff the stars and stripes were waving the Eskimo and dogs proclaimed their welcome in their peculiar way and the officers and crew made the visitor feel at home the questions soon discussed concerned a boat for Mr. Hall's journey to King William's land Captain Buddington said seriously that the question had been much on his mind and had been anxiously considered and his painful conclusion was that he had no whale boat adequate for the undertaking the boat made in purpose for that service which had been lost when the rescue was wrecked was the only one brought into those waters which could convey him safely to go in any other would be to throw away his life so Mr. Hall said heroically I will make the best of my stay here in explorations and study of the Eskimo traits and language do you return to the States get another suitable boat and God willing I will yet go to King William's land touching incidents of Inuit life were constantly passing before Mr. Hall here is one there was a young man E2 about 25 years of age whom our old acquaintances O'Garung had taken into his favor E2 had the misfortune to be born spotted all over his body precisely like the snow white and black spotting of the skin of one species of seal his heathen parents seemed on this account to have loosed their child for after enduring his presence a few years in the family the father carried him to an unfrequented barren island to die but God who cared for the child Ishmael and the little Moses watched over E2 he caught the seabirds which flocked to the land with his hands an extraordinary exploit the summers thus passed and winter came and the boy yet lived it so happened or shall we not the rather say God so ordered that the kayak of natives rode that way they were surprised when they saw a boy alone on the drear island and the child was frightened at their presence but when they made friendly signs he rushed into their arms the boy returned to his people but being shunned and slighted he became discouraged and indolent such was his situation when O'Garung took him into his family one day Mr. Hall entered the tent of Eberbing and found there a girl 13 years of age awkwardly whipping as though her heart would break she also was of O'Garung's family but had been staying with the kind Tukulito wife of Eberbing her trouble was that O'Garung was coming to take her away and make her the wife of E2 marry a seal-spotted man the thought was awful then she was so young Eberbing took with him a friend and called upon E2 and told him the dislike felt toward him of the girl poor E2 then Tukulito agreed with O'Garung to take charge of Udokler so the marriage was prevented marriage contracts among the Eskimo are made by the parents or other friends often in the childhood of the parties those immediately concerned seldom have anything to do or say in the matter among the Eskimo of Walesound the proposed bridegroom was sometimes required to be able to carry off to his igloo in spite of herself his intended bride the resistance in such cases on the part of the woman is supposed to depend upon circumstances there is no marriage to ceremony in these Eskimo communities the two great events marriage and death transpire without special nerd among the natives of the region we are now visiting the newborn child generally first sees the light alone with its mother and in an igloo built expressly for her late in July the ice broke up and liberated the George Henry from her icy prison the sailors returned on board and she sailed away on a wailing cruise Mr. Hall was left alone with his Inuit friends he had planned a voyage of exploration in his whale boat with a crew of them to be absent about two months on his return if he found the whalers in those regions he would go to the states in one of them if not he would remain in Eskimo life until their return Eberbing and Tukulito were of course to be of his party but Eberbing was taken seriously sick and so was prevented from accompanying him much to his regret his crew as finally selected were Kujasi and Wife Charlie his Eskimo name is too long to write and his wife Kudlu and a widow Suji remarkable for her great size and strength weighing 200 the party were off the 9th of August they passed through Laptan Channel a narrow run of water connecting Field Bay with Frobisher Bay a white whale preceded them leisurely keeping the lead as if conscious that there were no harpoons in the boat perhaps he assumed his safety from the presence of the woman the seafowl were abundant the Eskimo to save a munition adopted one of their own amusing yet cruel ways of capturing them they rode softly and swiftly to a cluster of them in the water just as the birds were about to fly the whole crew set up a most terrific yell at the same time stamping and throwing their arms about was wild justiculations down go the frightened birds diving instead of flying to escape the enemy the crew now sees their oars and the steer of guides the boat by the disturbed surface of the water to the spot where they come up the moment they show their heads the uproar is renewed down go the birds again without taking breath this course though exciting sport to the hunters is soon death to the poor birds which exhausted and finally drowned are picked from the surface of the water one of the ducks taken in this way was a mother with a fledgling as the parent gasped in its dying agony the child would put its little bill in her mouth for food and then nestled down under her for protection the explorers having entered sailed west along its northern shore they camped at night on the land and made slow progress by day they asked him over in no hurry while Mr. Hall would make good time to the extreme west of the bay and survey that line of coast as the waters had hitherto been deemed as straight but his free and easy companions were more disposed to have a good time than to add geographical knowledge at one time could you see taking up Mr. Hall's glass saw a bear some miles away on an island fresh duck was plenty on board and a chase after Nino at the expense of time was unnecessary but it would be fun that settled the matter a way sped the rickety old whale boat impelled by strong hands Bruins soon snuffed the strangers stood and looked finding the danger turned and ran over to the other side of the island soon the boat was inside of him and he plunged into the water the Eskimo now adopted a part of the game they had played so successfully on the ducks they occasionally made a sudden and deafening uproar Nino would stop and turn round to see what was the matter and so time was gained by his pursuers but he made good speed for the mainland and after a while began so far to comprehend the situation that no noise arrested his course on he went for dear life the balls soon reached him and died his coat in crimson yet he halted not until one struck his head this enraged him he deemed the play decidedly foul he turned showed his teeth and this brought the boat to a standstill the hunters did not care for a hand to pour a fight the rifle settled the unequal conflict a Nino's body was towed ashore the bladder of the bear was inflated and with some other charms put on a staff to be elevated on the top of the Tupik when the party encamped and in the bow of the boat went sailing this ensured good luck according to Eskimo notions the explorers were, while in camp at one time in want of oil for their lamp Kudlu found some strips of sea blubber and carried it to Suji who was in Tuktu that is in bed she sat up, rested upon her elbows put a dish before her took the blubber, bit off pieces chewed it and sucked the oil out and then spurted it out into the dish in this way she milled oil enough to fulfill two large lamps this done, she lay down again and slept with unwashed hands and face there were no white sheets to be soiled End of Chapter 38 Chapter 39 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 39 Round Frobisher Bay the explorers found occasionally during their voyage encampments of natives in these many incidents occurred illustrating Eskimo habits at one place the women were busily employed on seal skins making women's boots one of them was diligently suing while her big boy stood at her breast nursing before reaching the head of the bay Mr. Hall's party was joined by a boatload of Eskimo and several women canoes a beautiful river emptied into the bay here which abounded with salmon which proved most excellent eating vegetation was abundant the women brought Mr. Hall a good supply of berries resembling in size and color blueberries they were deemed a great luxury wolves barked and howled about the camp the aurora danced and raced across the heavens in strange grandeur the deer roamed about the rocky coast undisturbed except by the occasional visits of the inuits Mr. Hall having pretty thoroughly explored the head of the bay purposed to return on the side opposite that on which he came here were hills covered with snow it had no attractions for his Eskimo companions and they muttered their discontent at the root ascending one of these hills Mr. Hall planted on it with much enthusiasm a flagstaff from which floated the stripes and stars on returning to the encampment he found his tent occupied by several Eskimo busily engaged in various items of work one of the women having done him a favor he gave her some beads asking her at the same time what she had done with those he had given her on a former occasion she said she had given them to the Anga cook for his services in her sickness Mr. Hall went to a tin box and took out a copy of the Bible and held it up before the woman saying this talks to me of heaven instantly as though a light from heaven had flushed upon them all both men and women left their work and springing to their feet looked at Mr. Hall at first they seemed terrified then a smile of joy came over their faces and they said tell us what it talks of heaven as well as he was able but with a slight knowledge of their language he unfolded to them the great truths of revelation when he paused one of his hearers pointed downward inquiring if it talked of the grave or perhaps meaning the place of the wicked when he answered yes they looked at each other with solemnity and surprise but an incident which occurred soon after showed that these Eskimo did not feel the presence of eternal things a white whale had been seen and chased by the men and women he escaped and the men returned in bad humor as one of the women was helping to unload the boat her husband threw a seal hook at her with great force she parried the blow and it caught in her jacket she calmly removed it and continued at her work as if nothing had happened Eskimo men are generally the mildest if not the most affectionate of savages in their relation to husbands yet in their fits of passion they threw anything that is at hand at their wives a hatchet, stone, knife or spear as they would at a dog at one time the Eskimo men all left Mr. Hall's boat on a hunt he continued his voyage with the three women rowers the boat was pleasantly gliding along when in passing an island it fell into a current which rushed over a bed of slightly covered rocks with the rapidity of a mill race seething and whirling in its course the women though frightened rowed with great vigor Suzie showing herself more than an ordinary man in the emergency for sometimes the struggle was fearful and uncertain to go with the current was certain death to get out of it seemed impossible at last slowly steadily they gained on the rushing current and then the boat shot into a little cove in tranquil waters they landed and rested six hours Mr. Hall had now September 12th 35 days and he determined to return to rescue Harbour hoping to find that the George Henry had returned from her wailing trip they spliced the Eskimo but they did not like his south ride route Kujasi would in spite of Mr. Hall steers the boat towards the opposite side and the rowers enjoyed the joke at one time our explorer wished to stop and make further examination of a certain locality but Kujasi was heading the boat northward his captain urged him to stop and he replayed with savage sharpness you stop I go even the women rowers when alone with Mr. Hall set up an independent authority at one time and it was only after considerable urging that they yielded to the white man once when Kujasi was acting contrary to orders Mr. Hall turned upon him with tones of authority and a show of determination he yielded and five minutes afterwards the whole Eskimo crew were as jovial as if nothing had occurred yet it was not quite certain that this was a safe course the life of the lone white man was in their hands during this voyage Mr. Hall was treated without stint to the delights of one Eskimo practice we have spoken of the wild songs of their incantations rising often into a dismal howl one of the crew of women had a gift in this way and when she uncuted the rest accompanied or came in on the course in this way they often made the night of their encampment hideous one day the boat was gliding smoothly along under the steady strokes of the rowers the unemployed were nestling down in their furs dreamily musing while the dreary expanse of sky and sea was profoundly still saved the distant screech of the sea fowl and the occasional bark of the seal suddenly the female enchanter commenced her mystical song her voice was shrill as a night bird and varied by sharp and sudden cracks like force of July firecrackers the Eskimo crew came in on the course and the rowers put forth at the same time a frantic energy their eyes glaring and countenance is fearfully distorted the whole scene was intensely demoniac the enchanters seemed intoxicated with their howlings and continued them through the night and most of the two following days only one incident more of a noticeable character occurred on this excursion when one of their nightly encampments had just commenced a gold fever seized the Eskimo and shook the little community as if they had been white folks a huge lump of gold had been found it was precisely the article for which the sovereign of England and her savants had sent here 300 years before the sturdy throbisher with a fleet of empty ships it was emphatically fool's gold Friday, September 27th 1861 the explorers arrived at rescue harbour the George Henry was already there her energetic officers and crew had toiled through all the season and taken nothing the explorer and the ship's commander, after a warm supper sat in the cabin talking over the incidents of their experience while separated until a late hour of the night the whole community were jubilant at their return as fears were indulged that the crazy craft had sunk with all its occupants the explorer was not long in finding the tupic of his friends a beer-bing and wife when the wife of Tukulitu saw him she buried her face in her hands and burst into tears so great was her joy while chatting with them, Mr. Hall heard the plaintive sound of an infant voice turning back the folds of Tukulitu's fur rubber a little boy was seen only 24 days old October 20th came and the whalers had secured three whales an encouraging success after a long failure but her captain had not intended to stay another winter his time was out and so nearly were his provisions but while rescue harbour was yet clear of ice and he was getting ready to return purposing to take with him the still enthusiastic explorer the heavy pack was outside of the harbour in Davis Strait it had to come an untimely unwelcome voyager from the north while the anxious whalemen were looking for a lead to open and permit them to sail homeward the frosty king of the north waved his icy skipper and Davis Strait was an unnavigable as the solid land another winter was spent in rescue harbour but until early in August 1862 that the vessel was set free and spread her sails for home this year too was diligently improved by Mr. Hall in explorations and the further study of the Eskimo language and character he confidently expected to return after a short stay in the United States and carry out his proposed plan of explorations in King William's land along with him, Eberbing and Tukulitu with their infant boy Tuk-eliketa the dog Barbeckark made one of the returning party they arrived in New London September 13th 1862 after an absence of two years and three and a half months end of Chapter 39 Chapter 40 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Mudge Chapter 40 The Polaris we have seen that Mr. Hall's enthusiasm for Arctic research was unabated when he returned from his first adventure in 1864 he was off again he sailed from New London in the veiler Monticello accompanied by his Eskimo friends Eberbing and Tukulitu the Monticello entered Hudson Bay landed the daring explorers on its northern shores and left them to their fortunes from thence they made the long dreary journey to King William's land where the relics of Franklin's party had been found some of whom Hall hoped to find alive for five years he lived an Eskimo life experiencing many thrilling adventures and escaping many imminent dangers at one time he saved his own life only by shooting an ex-sailant who was leading against him a party who had conspired to murder him the result of his long sojourn in this region of cold was a store of knowledge of the Eskimo habits and language but nothing important relating to the fate of the Franklin expedition many said confirmations were indeed found of the fact before generally accepted that they had all miserably perished on his return Mr. Hall nothing doubted by hardships and failures commenced writing and lecturing on the theory of an open polar sea as he had done before so now he succeeded in impressing not only the popular mind but scientific men and statesmen with the plausibility of his theory and the practicability of his plans another North Pole expedition was proposed Congress appropriated to eat $50,000 and Mr. Hall was appointed its commander a craft of about 400 tons being larger than either of its predecessors on the same errand was selected and named the Polaris she was a screw propeller and rigged as a four-top sail schooner her sides were covered with a six-inch white oak planking nearly doubling their strengths her mouths were nearly solid white oak made sharp and sheathed with iron one of her boilers was fitted for the use of whale or seal oil by which steam could be raised if the coal was exhausted she was supplied with five extraordinary boats one of these must have been the last Yankee invention in the boat line it is represented as having a capacity to carry 25 men yet weighing only 250 pounds when not in use it could be folded up and packed snugly away the Polaris was of course amply equipped and ably manned and great and useful results were expected from her President Grant is said to have entered with interest into this enterprise of Captain Hall and the nation said God bless him and his perilous undertaking though many doubted the wisdom of any more Arctic expeditions a few days before his departure Mr. Hall received from the hand of his friend Henry Grinnell a flag of historic note it had fluttered in the wind near the south pole with Leutnant Wilkes in 1838 had been born by the haven far northward it had gone beyond the haven's highest in the Cain voyage and was planted still further north poleward by Hayes I believe exclaimed Captain Hall on receiving it that this flag in the spring of 1872 will float over a new world in which the north pole star is its crowning jewel the Polaris left New York June 29 1871 carried for a few days at New London and was last heard from as she was ready to steam northward from Tussoysack the most northern of the Greenland outposts at this place Captain Hall met our old acquaintance Jensen of the Hayes expedition he was flourishing as governor of a few humble huts occupied by a few cumbler people and he put on consequential heirs in the presence of his wide brother he would not be a dog driver again to an arctic exploration not he Hall says he had a face of brass in charging for his dogs but the full complement of 60 was made up here and his stock of furs was increased as our voyagers are now about to enter upon the terribly earnest conflicts of north pole explorers and as their complement of men and women are complete we will further introduce them to our readers the commander Hall they know he is well proportioned, muscular, of medium height, quiet but completely enthusiastic in his chosen line of duty believing thoroughly in himself and his enterprise yet believing well too easily of others especially of the rough men of his command some of whom have grown up under the harsh discipline of the voyorship or the naval service the next in command is the sailing master captain S.O. Buddington of our lost narrative Captain Tyson commissioned as assistant navigator to the expedition has been introduced to the reader at Robesher Bay while in command there of a voyorship we shall have occasion to become very intimate with him here is our old acquaintance William Morton whom we knew so favorably by his heroic deeds in the Dr. Cain expedition he is second mate now of course Captain Hall's old friends of his first and second Arctic experience Eberbing Antuculito, his wife, are here they are now known as Joe and Hannah and although it does some violence to our taste to drop their Eskimo names we will conform to the usage about us and know them in this narrative by these English names they are accompanied by an adopted daughter from amongst her people about ten years old whom they call Pune and here too is our old friend Hans taken on board at Upernavik having been with Cain and Hayes nothing doubted by the perils of their voyages he is here to see if possible with Hall the North Pole though no doubt thinking much more of his twenty five dollars a month as hunter and dog driver than of the desired discoveries his wife and their three children are with him for, like a good husband and father he would not be separated from his family the children are Augustina a girl about thirteen years heavy built and most as large as her mother Tobias, a boy of perhaps eight and a little girl, Sookie, of four years think of such a group daring the known and unknown perils of Arctic ice and coal with the rest of the ship's company we shall form acquaintance as our narrative progresses on the twenty fourth of August the Polaris left to Suissac and fairly began her Arctic fight in the ice current and wind encounters of Melville Bay but on she steamed passing in a few days through the bay into the north water into Smith Sound passing Hayes winter quarters yet steaming on by Dr. Cain's winter quarters not even pausing to salute our old friends Calutuna and Miok sailing up the west side of Kennedy Channel the scene of Dr. Hayes conflicts and heroic achievements the Polaris finally brings up the ice barriers of North latitude 82 degrees and 16 minutes the highest points of previous voyages in this direction are far south that new world of which the North Pole star is the crowning jewel is less than 600 miles farther if that open sea located in this latitude by confident explorers was only a fact how easily and how soon would the brave Polaris be there but the ice flow strong and defiant and the southern current were facts and the open sea nowhere visible the Polaris was taken in hand by the ice and current in the historic Arctic fashion and set back about 50 miles the ice king had said thus far and no farther and pointed with his frosty fingers southward the Polaris early in September was glad to steam in under the land anchor to an iceberg and make her winter quarters Captain Hall called the harbor Thank God Harbor and the friendly anchorage Providenceburg he had arrived here now for a little farther north at a place he called Repulse Harbor he went ashore through the stripes and stars to the breeze and took possession of the land in the name of God and the president of the United States we shall not expect to hear that a territorial representative from this land enters the next Congress if this part of our national domain has a representative in the lifetime of our distinguished acquaintance, Kalutuna we nominate him for the position as one of the nearest known inhabitants now commenced in earnest preparations for an Arctic winter we have seen how this is done and Hall and some at least of his officers knew how to do it the hunters were abroad at once and an early prize was a musk ox weighing 300 pounds his meat was tender and good having no musky odor this was but the beginning of the good gunning afforded by this far northern region two seals were soon after shot the country was found to abound in these and in geese, ducks, rabbits, wolves foxes, partridges and bears the scurvy was not likely to venture near our explorers a pleasant incident occurred on Shipboard about this time which the reader will better appreciate as our story progresses it was September 24th the Sabbath's religious service of the preceding day had been conducted by Chaplain Bryant in his usual happy manner at its close Commander Hall made some kind earnest remarks to the men by which their rough natures were made tender and they sent a letter from the forecastle to the cabin expressing to him their thanks to this he replied in the following note Sirs the reception of your letter of thanks to me of this date I acknowledge with a heart that deeply feels and fully appreciates the kindly feeling that has prompted you to this act I need not assure you that your commander has and ever will have a lively interest in your welfare you have left your homes, friends and country indeed you have bid far well for a time to the whole civilized world for the purpose of aiding me in discovering the mysterious hidden parts of the earth I therefore must and shall care for you as a prudent father cares for his faithful children October 10th after careful preparations Captain Hall started Northford on an experiment in the way of sledging he purposed more extended sledge journeys in the spring until the pole itself should be reached he took two sledges drawn by seven dogs each Captain Hall and Joe accompanied one and Mr. Chester's a mate and Hans the other their experience on this trip was simply of the Arctic kind of which we have seen so much deep snows, treacherous ice which was in a state of change by the action of winds and currents intense cold and vexed and vicious dogs all put in their appearance but Captain Hall says these drawbacks are nothing new to an Arctic traveler we laugh at them and plowed on determined to execute the service facefully to the end the sledge expedition was gone two weeks and traveled north 50 miles they discovered a lake and a river they came to the southern Cape of a bay which they had seen from the Polaris in her drift from above they named the bay Newman Bay and attached Senator Summer's name to the Cape from the top of an iceberg they surveyed the bay and believed it extended inland 30 miles crossing the mouth of the bay they clambered up its high northern Cape which they called Brehurt here they looked westward over the waters up which a good distance passed this point the Polaris had sailed and which they had named Robeson Strait they peered longingly into the misty distance and fondly hoped to penetrate it with sledge or steamer in the spring Joe, the architect of the journey built here their six snow hut it was warmer than at Thangard Harbor and birds, musk oxen, foxes and rabbits were seen and bear and wolf tracks were in the vicinity Captain Hall was joyous at the future prospect he wrote a dispatch from this high latitude in which he says we have all been well up to this time a copy of it was placed in a copper cylinder and buried under a pile of stones the party turned their faces homeward Captain Hall's Arctic explorations were ended End of Chapter 40 Chapter 41 of North Pole Voyages by Zaharia A. Maj this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 41 Disaster About noon of October 24 Captain Hall and his party were seen in the distance approaching the ship Captain Tyson, the assistant navigator went out to meet them not even a dog had been lost and Captain Hall was jubilant over his trip and the future of the expedition while he was absent the work of banking up the Polaris with snow as an increased defense against the cold the building of a house on shore for the stores and their removal to it from the ship had gone forward nearly to completion he looked at the work, greeted all cheerfully and entered the cabin he obtained water and washed and put on clean underclothes the steward Mr. Heron asked him what he would have to eat expressing at the same time a wish to get him something nice he thanked him but said he wanted only a cup of coffee and complained of the heat of the cabin he drank a part of the cup of coffee and set it aside soon after he complained of sickness at the stomach and threw himself into his birth Chester's a mate and Morton's second mate watched with him all night during which he was at times delirious it was thought he was partially paralyzed the surgeon Dr. Bessel was in constant attendance but after temporary improvement he became wildly delirious imagining someone had poisoned him and accused first one, then another he thought he saw blue gas coming from the mouths of persons about him he refused clean stockings at the hand of Chester thinking they were poisoned and he made others taste the food, tendered him by taking it himself even that from sealed cans opened in his cabin during the night of November 7th he was clear in his mind and as surgeon Bessel was putting him to bed and tucking him in he said in his own kind tone Doctor, you have been very kind to me and I am obliged to you early in the morning of November 8th he died and with his death the American North Polar expedition was ended the grave of their beloved commander was dug by the men under Captain Tyson inland, southeast, about a half mile from the Polaris the frozen ground yielded reluctantly to the pigs and the grave was of necessity, very shallow on the 11th a mournful procession moved from the Polaris to the place of Burial though not quite noon it was arctic night a weird electric light filled the air through which the stars shone brilliantly Captain Tyson walked ahead with the lantern followed by Commander Buddington and his officers and then by the scientific corpse which included the chaplain Mr. Brian the men followed drawing the coffin on a sled one of their number bearing another ladder the fitting pole thrown over the coffin was the American flag following the sled were the Eskimo lost in the procession but not the least in the depths and genuineness of their sorrow at the grave Tyson held the light for the chaplain to read the Burial service as the solemn yet comforting words were uttered I am the resurrection and the life said the Lord all were subdued to tears only from the spirit of the Gospel breathing its tender influence through these words was there any cheerful inspiration the day was cold and dismal and the wind howled mournfully inland over narrow snow covered plain and in the shadowy distance were huge masses of slate rock the ghostly looking sentinels of the barren land beyond seaboard was the extended ice of Polaris Bay and the intervening shore strewn with great ice blocks in wild confusion about 500 paces away was a little hut called an observatory and from its flagstaff drooped at half-months the stars and stripes far away were his loved family and friends whose prayers had followed him during his adventures in the icy north who even now hoped for his complete success and safe return and far away the Christian Burial place where it would have been to them mournfully pleasant to have laid him but he who had declared that he loved the Arctic regions and whose ears there was music in its veiling winds and whose eyes there was beauty in its rugged icy barrenness had found his earthly resting place where nature was closed in its wildest Arctic features a board was erected over his grave in which was cut to the memory of C. F. Hall late commander of the North Polar expedition died November 8, 1871, aged 50 years when the funeral procession had returned to the ship all moved about in the performance of their duty in gloomy silence it is sad to record that the great affliction caused by the death of Hall was rendered more intense by the moral condition of the surviving party two hideous specters had early in the expedition made their appearance on board the Polaris they were the spirits of rum and discord Commander Hall had forbidden the admission of liquor on shipboard but it had come with the medicines whether of them or not it was put under the key of the locker but it broke out no we will not do injustice even to this foul list of demons an officer selected to guard the safety and comfort of the ship's company broke open the locker and let it out this brought upon him a reprimand from Captain Hall and later a letter of stricture upon his conduct the doctor's alcohol could not be safely kept for professional purposes which raised altercations on board so rum and discord always so closely allied went stalking through the ship with their horrid train in subordination of course was from the first in attendance Hall had it would seem in part persuaded into submission his ghastly specter where on shipboard the lives of all depend upon submission to one will rebellion becomes in effect murder we have seen that doctor Cain argued down this bloody intruder by a pistol in a steady hand leveled at the head of the chief rebel and that doctor Hayes saved his boat party by the same persuasive influence over Kalutuna but Hall was not reared in the Navy and was cast in a gentle mold on the Sunday following the burial of Hall it was announced that from that time the Sunday service would be omitted each one can pray for himself just as well it was remarked the faithful chaplain however seems to have held religious service afterward for such as pleased to attend Hall had taken great pleasure in it and it had we think attended every Arctic expedition through which we have carried the reader after such a purpose to dismiss public worship from the vessel we are not surprised to learn that the men made night hideous by their carousings nature was out had seized to distinguish night from day and our explorers did not follow the example of their predecessors in this region and make day and night below decks by requiring the light to be put out at a stated hour so the noise and card playing had all hours for their own under the circumstances as if to make the Polaris four castles the counterpart of one of our city hells pistols were put into the hands of the men this cord was now armed and alcohol was at the chief place of command the Christmas came but no religious service with it New Year's Day brought nothing special the winter dragged along but not the wind which roared in tempests and rushed over the flow in currents traveling fifty-three miles an hour it played wild and free with the little bark which had intruded upon its domain breaking up the ice around it and straining at its moorings attached to the friendly burg spring came at last hunting became lively and successful his majesty the bear became meat for the hunters after a plucky fight in which two dogs had their zeal for bear combat fairly subdued mask oxen stood in stupid groups to be shot white foxes would not be hit at any rate birds trusting to their spread wings or brought low plucked and eaten seals coming out of their holes and stretching themselves on the ice to enjoy dreamily a little sunshine to which they innocently thought they had the right as natives of the country were suddenly startled by the crack of the rivals of Hans and Joe and often under such circumstances died instantly of lead it seemed hardly fair in fact we are confident that the animals about Polaris Bay contracted a prejudice against the strangers except the white foxes who could not see what hurt these hunters did at least to foxes and they were of mind that it was decided fun to be hunted by them the Eskimo have been in this high latitude in the not distant past as a piece of one of their sledges was found soon after Hall's death the chief officers had mutually pledged in writing that it is our honest intention to honor our flag and to hoist it upon the most northern point of the earth during the spring and summer some journeys northward were made but were not extended beyond regions already visited the eye which would have even now looked with hope and faith through the region of the star which is the crowning jewel of the central north was dim in death Captain Buttington now in chief command had faced and hope in the homeward voyage only on the 12th of August 1872 the Polaris was ready with steam up for the return trip on that very day there was added to the family of Hans a son all agreed to name him Charlie Polaris thus prettily suggesting the name of the late commander and of the ship little Charlie was evidently disgusted with this native country for he immediately turned his back upon it the ship steaming away that afternoon the Polaris had made a tolerably straight course up but now made a zigzag one back on she went steaming drifting banging against broken flows through the waters over which we have voyaged with Cain and Hayes until they came into the familiar regions of Hayes winter quarters on the afternoon of the 15th of October the wind blew a terrific gale from the northwest the flow in an angry mood nipped the ship terribly she groaned and shrieked in pain but not in terror for with her white oak coat of male she still defied her ic foe now rising out of his grasp and then falling back and breaking for herself an easier position the holders were attached to the flow and the men stood waiting for the result of the combat on which their lives depended at this moment the engineer rushed to the deck with the startling announcement that the Polaris had sprung a leak and that the water was gaining on the pumps the captain threw up his arms and yelled the order to throw everything on the ice no examination into the condition of the leak seems to have been made a panic followed an overboard vent everything in reckless confusion many valuable articles falling near the vessel and of course were drawn under by her restless throws and lost overboard vent boats provisions ammunition men women and children nobody knew what nor who it was night an intensely dark snowy tempestuous night it was in this state of things when the ship stores and people were divided between the flow and her deck that the anchors planted in the flow to our away and the mooring lines snapped like pecs red and away went the Polaris in the darkness striking against huge ice cakes and drifting none new where does God care for sparrows and will he not surely care for these imperiled explorers both those in the drifting steamer and those on the flow whom he alone can save and housed in an Arctic night on which no sun will rise for many weeks exposed to the capris of winds currents and the ever untrustworthy ice raft on which they are cast we will leave the flow party a while in his care and follow the fortunes of the brave little vessel and her men end of chapter 41