"He may have been here for years," I added.
"He may," Torrence replied, and then producing a paper from a large
packet, asked me what I thought of the signature.
I started, for I recognized it at once. It was one of those I had seen
through the keyhole in the hotel Mustapha, and the signature was the
same as the one before me--Ned Merrick. I then recalled the fact that I
had heard my brother address the mysterious stranger--I mean the sailor
we had first met upon the Thames boat, and whom afterward I had seen at
the Mustapha--as Merrick. Could it be possible that he was the same who
had escaped through the ice belt to this island? I was amazed, but
before I could make an inquiry Torrence continued:
"I now am certain that this island is inhabited, as I told you, unless,
perchance, the man has died. I am also sure of the continents; for the
man Merrick having told me the truth in this most amazing case, it is
probable that he has not lied in other matters, especially as he gave me
proof, and as his story coincides with my own views. Let us look for
Jan von Broekhuysen, then we will proceed upon our voyage."
We made a careful search for this extraordinary individual, but not
finding any traces of him, we returned to the vessel and prepared to go.
As we were clearing the coast a creature of scarcely human aspect, clad
in a robe of feathers and covered to the waist with a mass of tawny gray
hair, appeared to rise out of the sand. He probably emerged from the
shelter of some neighboring rock, and stood for a moment looking at us
in amazement. On a motion to alter our course, as if to pursue him, the
creature disappeared as suddenly and strangely as he had come. He was
simply invisible, and it would have been useless to waste our time in an
effort to capture him. There was no doubt to our minds that this was
Jan von Broekhuysen.
* * * * *
*XIV.*
Northward again we proceeded on our journey, and from the upper deck
surveyed the solitude of an ocean unknown to human eyes. All traces of
ice had vanished; the sea was tranquil and the air pleasant. Naturally
enough our conversation fell upon the mysterious cairn and its contents.
"In my opinion," said Torrence, "this Jan von Broekhuysen is the most
unique creation of our planet. He is the only human being of his kind
since creation. I will guarantee that not in a million years has the
earth produced such another!"
I asked him what he meant, and suggested the possibility of others
having been lost under like circumstances, while admitting the
improbability of their having reached such a latitude.
"That is not it at all!" he exclaimed; "Jan von Broekhuysen stands
alone, and for this reason. Because he is the only living creature of
our race who has been put alone in an uninhabited world, and who has
never seen nor communicated with a fellow-creature!"
"You mean since he was twenty years old, for I believe the paper says
that was his age," said I.
"No," replied Torrence, "I mean nothing of the kind. I mean that never,
for a single instant, has he seen or communicated with a fellow-being
until he saw us!"
"I don't understand you. Doesn't the paper say he twenty years old when
wrecked?"
"Certainly. But doesn't the paper say that when he struck he lost his
memory?"
"But what of that? he's sure to have seen plenty of people in the first
part of his life."
"Gurt, that fellow never had any other part to his life. His life began
afresh after landing on that island. His past having been wiped out, he
was born again. His memory being gone, the past had no existence for
him. He knew no more about a previous existence than you or I know about
a life before this. Practically he was reincarnated, inasmuch as his
brain had lost every picture and every record of the past. He came as a
new man to a new world, knowing nothing. The first twenty years of his
life was no more his than if it had belonged to another body. I claim
that Von Broekhuysen is the most unique creature that ever visited our
planet!"
I was impressed, and thought some time before answering. Finally I
said:
"It is doubtless a remarkable case, but you must be accurate in your
statements, and when you declare that the fellow has never either seen
or communicated with a fellow-being since losing his memory, you must
not forget his comrades, Niles and Merrick, who were with him for a year
afterward; surely he must remember them."
"Not at all," said Torrence; "when those men left him he was only a year
old, so to speak. He had entered his new existence but a twelvemonth
before; and although he had the size and strength of a man, he was but
an infant, so far as his mind was concerned, and I defy any one to
recall anything which happened at that time of their lives. No one can
remember what happened when he was but a year old. I have thought it
all out, old boy, and Von Broekhuysen ought to belong to a museum!"
There was no gainsaying what my brother said. I wanted to ask him how
Merrick had made his escape, and what had become of the other fellow,
but a look warned me that an appropriate time had not come for these
questions. I was impressed with the marvelous way in which Torrence had
been prepared for our discovery by this extraordinary man, Merrick, who
must have seen more of the mysteries of the Arctic regions than any
human being alive.
We were sailing over a sea of vast extent, whose shores were mythical.
Whither would it lead us? Although it was the time of year when we
might reasonably expect to find moderate weather, even in high latitude,
we were amazed to find the air so temperate and pleasant as it was. We
sat on deck nearly all the time, when not engaged in eating or sleeping,
and often without our top coats. We kept constant watch on the horizon,
the water below us, and the sky above; expecting at any moment to
discover the outline of some unknown continent, but as the monotony of
sky and water continued we began to sympathize with Columbus.
Twenty-four hours after leaving the island, which we agreed to call Von
Broekhuysen, we estimated that we could not have come less than four
hundred miles, and yet there had not been the slightest indication of
land, although we had not changed our course half a degree. It was the
same placid, unmarked, and unknown ocean. Whither were we drifting?
It was about here that the meteorological conditions of the atmosphere
began to strike me as peculiar. The northern horizon had been subjected
to a singular phenomenon for a good many hours, which I ascribed to one
of those effects of light so common in these latitudes. It was simply a
crescent-shaped cloud, growing in height as we advanced. At first it
subtended the segment of an arc of about sixty degrees across the
horizon, steadily ascending toward the zenith with our progress. But
gradually this form lost its definiteness, and melted into the sky in a
mellow haze, which softened the light and obscured the sun. We were
glad enough to have the glare off the water, as it had been quite
trying, but I was at a loss to account for the phenomenon which had
abolished it. If Torrence understood this he failed to explain it to
me--advising me to wait and see what would happen. I mention it here as
an important fact bearing upon our future discoveries. I had never
before seen so peculiar a cloud, retaining a definite form for so long a
time, fixed in density and character save that the arc grew as we
proceeded; and I naturally puzzled myself a good deal meditating on it.
But it was not until later that I ascertained the cause of this
astounding phenomenon.
* * * * *
Forty-eight hours after leaving the island we were still floating over
the same placid sea, and without indication of land upon any point of
the horizon. We were working our way along at the rate of five and
twenty knots, under perfect conditions, when a thought struck me.
"How far have we come since leaving the island?" I asked.
Torrence looked at the indicator.
"About six hundred miles," he said.
"Exactly; and as Von Broekhuysen's island is not more than two hundred
and fifty from the pole, we must have passed it, and be running down on
the other side of the earth. It surely can't be long before we strike
the frozen belt again; indeed we ought to be there already. But there
hasn't been a block of ice, or a bit of cold weather to speak of yet.
How do you account for it?"
"Don't bother about the ice," said Torrence; "you ought to be glad we
haven't got any."
"But we ought to have it," I insisted, "according to my
calculations----"
"Damn your calculations," he answered laughing; "didn't I tell you I was
going to show you a new world, and new continents!"
"Continents! I should enjoy even a shovel full of mud at present."
"Have patience; if Merrick could cross this sea in a dugout, with a
cotton sheet, we surely have an equal chance of doing so; although I
confess I think he must have struck a strip of land to the east or west
which we have missed. But we are on a straight course and bound to come
out all right if we keep on."
"You expect to run down then over Alaska?" I inquired.
"I expect nothing of the kind. Wait and you will see."
And I had to wait, for he would say nothing more just then, although I
asked him numerous questions.
It was shortly after this that I observed another most singular
phenomenon in the sky, which struck me with such amazement that I was
filled with awe. About twenty degrees south of the zenith there
appeared in the heavens an enormous disk of pale light, only
distinguishable from the rest of the sky by being brighter and more of a
bluish tinge. I should say it was a hundred times as large as the sun,
distinctly defined, and though not brilliant by contrast with that
luminary, was probably twice as luminous as the surrounding parts of the
sky. There was something so utterly amazing in this sight that I could
not take my eyes from it, and even Torrence was impressed, although I
could see that he had a plausible explanation in his own mind. When I
had stared long and earnestly without observing the slightest change in
the appearance, he said:
"When you have got a little more used to things here I will talk
plainer. There are mysteries about our planet not even realized; and we
are on the high road to solve one of the most astounding."
The disk of light continued. It did not seem to grow larger or smaller,
or to change its position in the heavens, and after I had grown weary of
looking at it, directed my attention again to the horizon, and was
startled by the unexpected appearance of two very singular objects.
They were small and very distant, but the glass revealed a couple of
dark spots four degrees to the port of our course, and hard upon the
sky-line. Later a more careful observation showed a pair of black
columns rising directly out of the sea. These objects, whatever they
were, now absorbed our entire attention, and we steered directly for
them.
* * * * *
Our compass had behaved so strangely of late that we depended in a
measure upon the triangulation of the rudder, which we knew was
inviolable in a still atmosphere, such as had favored us since leaving
Spitzbergen. This feature of our steering apparatus was really very
clever, and entirely original with my brother, who had devised it for
the special purpose of obviating the difficulties mariners often
encounter in Arctic waters from the extreme sensitiveness and uncertain
freaks of the magnetic needle. It consisted in a semi-circular dial,
accurately inscribed with degrees, minutes, and seconds, upon which an
indicator, connected with the rudder bar, acted. Thus any deviation from
a given course was accurately recorded by this index finger, and while
unaffected by air currents, was thoroughly reliable. Another great
advantage in determining our position, lay in the fact that we were
enabled by the aid of our speed register to know exactly how fast we
were traveling. Of course in a high wind it would be more difficult to
utilize these contrivances with accuracy, as another computation that of
estimating the velocity and direction of the air current would have to
be entered upon a condition which fortunately had not troubled us.
We continued, head on, for the points mentioned, the nature of which, we
were unable to decipher, even with the excellent glasses at our command.
Although running at a good rate, it was impossible to tell at the end of
half an hour whether these dark projections were any nearer than when we
had first seen them. The air was clear, and the field of vision
extended. The light appeared to differ from that of our own day, being
less intense and exceedingly restful and pleasant to the eyes. I can
compare it to nothing I know of, although in an inaccurate way it might
be said to resemble, on an exaggerated scale, that charming blending of
moonlight with the gloaming. It was here that I first noticed what
seemed to be an electrical condition of the atmosphere that filled me
with the most agreeable sensations. I felt lighter, stronger, in every
way healthier, and in better spirits. Torrence also spoke of this, and
I am sure that I am right in ascribing it to our environment. The sun
itself continued invisible, while the luminous disk referred to remained
unchanged. We were indeed entering an unknown world. Where would it
end?
After an hour's run we could just perceive that the dark columns ahead
were a trifle nearer, though still thoroughly indefinite as to
character. Torrence looked at the register. Twenty-five miles an hour.
"They are still at a great distance," he said, "and I propose to hasten
my acquaintance with them."
He moved up the speed controller five miles faster, and then we took
seats and lighted cigars.
"Why should we not push her up to a mile a minute," I suggested, "and
satisfy our curiosity so much the sooner?"
"I don't know," he answered, "there is no reason except a strange
apprehension that comes over me sometimes lest we have an accident. We
seem so far from all we know."
"I thought you had every confidence."
"So I have. The truth is I am excited. We are on the verge of an
astounding discovery, I am dead sure that Merrick is right, and that I
am right--but hush--do not ask me yet. I do not want to unnerve you. A
little later!"
"You unnerve me a great deal more by not telling me than by telling me.
What is it?"
But he was quiet; with his glasses trained carefully on the objects
ahead.
At the end of two hours more we appeared only a trifle nearer the
columns, although we were undoubtedly seventy miles closer than when
first sighted. Torrence was growing nervous. He walked the deck,
chewing his cigar. Presently he stopped, and said:
"I can't stand it. I'm going to give her five miles an hour more," and
moved up the controller accordingly.
We were now moving at the rate of five and thirty miles an hour, but
even at this rapid pace, it was three good hours before we could decide
with any certainty the nature of the columns; and then we saw that they
were twin mountains of extraordinary height, rising out of the sea. In
another hour they were much more distinct, though still very far, and I
was at a loss to account for our having seen them at so great a distance
at first, except upon the ground of the many singular effects of light
and atmosphere which we encountered. Among these was a strange
indefiniteness about the horizon, totally differing from the prevailing
conditions in other parts of the world. The sky-line blended with the
heavens in a kind of atmospheric veil, self-luminous, and illusive. The
effect was altogether pleasing, though entirely novel. Occasionally the
clouds would be rosy as after sunset, which I again attributed to some
electrical condition of the air, possibly the aurora, which, had it been
the Arctic night instead of day, I imagined would have made a wonderful
display. But this was purely hypothetical on my part, and when I
suggested it to Torrence, he looked at me with surprise and said:
"Night! There is no night here!"
"Not now," I replied; "but six months hence there will be."
"Never!" said he; "there is never any night here. It is always as light
as this!"
I saw from his mood that it would be useless to argue, and so continued
my investigation of the twin mountains, which had grown near enough to
be easily inspected with the naked eye. Torrence calculated that they
must, have been more than two hundred miles away when first seen.
When we had approached near enough to observe them in detail, we
slackened speed. Rising directly out of the ocean, they presented a
marvelous picture; for their stupendous height and rugged grandeur is
surely not equalled in the world we inhabit. We moved slowly toward
them, wishing to take in the scene from our deck to the best advantage.
We photographed them at different ranges, and were always surprised to
find that our last picture had been so remote. We moved more slowly as
we approached, finally reducing the rate to five miles an hour,
believing we were within half an hour's run of the shore, but were
undoubtedly ten or a dozen miles away at that time.
A stupendous wall of black granite rose before us, to a height which we
estimated to exceed twelve thousand feet. This was the mountain upon
the left; the one on the right was nearly as high, though not so
absolutely precipitous. Between these mountains was a channel about a
mile wide. Coming to a halt before these appalling objects, two hundred
and fifty feet above the sea, we stood on deck, overwhelmed at the awful
sight. Below stretched a crimson beach, running back to a chaotic sand
hill, strewn with huge masses of broken stone, from the top of which
towered in one unbroken wall the palisade or face of the mountain
itself.
Lowering ourselves gently to this beach we landed in a new world and
language cannot picture the appalling sublimity of the scene, or
describe our emotions.
"Surely these cliffs must mark the end of the earth!" I exclaimed.
"Hush!" said Torrence solemnly; "it is only the beginning!"
He was pale, and I could not help wondering if my face were as white as
his.
Craning my neck backward I looked up. A cloud had hidden the top, and I
felt dizzy.
* * * * *
*XV.*
Immediately on landing we made another careful examination of the air
ship, and to our intense satisfaction found that she was still in
perfect condition. We had come a long journey, and thoroughly tested
her powers in varied temperatures and atmospheric conditions, but the
distance was as nothing to what was to come.
As we stood on this brilliant beach and looked back at the southern sky
I observed that the disk of blue light was a little smaller, and a very
little higher in the heavens. Still there was no sun, but this great
circular shield was a focus for the dissemination of light upon every
side. I stood marveling at it until Torrence called me. He was
examining the crimson shells a little higher up the shore.
"Come," he said, "and look at these!"