Having no load to carry, I was able to keep up with the Esquimaux and
their dog-sledge till it was time to encamp, when Ewen, who had
recovered his strength more rapidly than I could have supposed possible,
offered to assist me in building a snow-hut. We tried in vain to learn
from the Esquimaux whether they had seen Sandy and his party, but they
failed to understand our signs as we did theirs. They were merry
fellows, though not pleasant companions in a snow-hut in one sense.
Notwithstanding this, we spent the night with a feeling of greater
security than we had enjoyed for some time.
The following day we were passing close to an iceberg which, from its
appearance, I should have supposed could have withstood the fury of the
most violent storms. I was admiring its fantastic form, when one of the
Esquimaux seized my arm, while the other urged on the dogs at redoubled
speed. We had got a hundred yards from it, when without any warning it
suddenly capsized, and shivered into fragments, which glided along the
ice towards us. In an instant we were surrounded by pieces of ice,
pools of water and fissures, into which it required the greatest care to
avoid falling. We pushed on without stopping to look behind us, until
we were at a considerable distance from the spot. The Esquimaux did not
appear to think the occurrence at all unusual; but after this they kept
at a respectful distance from other icebergs of similar appearance. It
was a sign to us that the sun was gaining strength, and we could not
help fearing that the whole field of ice might before long break up.
At length we approached the shore, the cliffs which had hitherto fringed
the coast running back some distance inland before they again appeared
to the southward.
The Esquimaux pointed to the land towards which they directed the
sledge.
We could, however, see no signs of dwellings, though we discovered some
objects moving about, which we supposed were human beings. On
approaching we saw a number of dogs in front of a snow-hut which rose
just above the ground.
On seeing our canine friends they rushed forward, barking a welcome,
though I am not certain how they would have treated us had not our
Esquimaux guides driven them off. Directly afterwards a number of men,
women, and children came out of their huts in the neighbourhood, and
appeared to be enquiring who we were and what had brought us to their
settlement.
The replies seemed to be satisfactory, for they began forthwith to rub
noses with us and then led us up to their dwellings.
We tried to make them understand that it was our object to proceed
further south, where we could meet with our countrymen and other
Europeans. The cunning fellows, however, did not, as far as we could
make out, wish to go to the southward, but gave us to understand that we
were welcome to remain with them as long as we liked.
Our guides having delivered us over to their friends, immediately set
off to rejoin the party we had met proceeding northward. This made us
believe that they expected the ice would soon break up, and that the
object of their journey was to secure summer quarters, when the rest
would rejoin them in their kayaks.
Our new friends at once set to work to build for us an igloo, or hut of
ice, each block being about six inches in thickness, and a couple of
feet in length, cemented by snow. The domed roof was made of snow, the
key piece at the top being a large square slab. Our dwelling was about
sixteen feet in diameter and seven in height, with a passage of about
twenty feet, of sufficient height to allow a person to creep in on his
knees, having a small chamber at the end.
While four of the men were engaged in building our hut, two others set
off into the interior, and soon returned with a large piece of
fresh-water transparent ice which was placed over the door to serve as a
window.
The whole was completed within an hour, and a very comfortable abode it
was when lined with skins of bears and deer. We judged from the
advancing temperature, however, that it would not last very long.
After we had been settled in our abode, our hosts invited us to come
into one of their huts of still larger dimensions to enjoy a banquet, as
we understood by the signs they made. Not wishing to offend them we
accepted their invitation, though we would gladly have remained away.
The hut was crowded, and we could barely find sitting-room. A large
mass of meat and blubber from a walrus which had just before been
caught, was placed in the centre, when our friends, seating themselves,
cut off long strips of blubber, and applied the ends to their mouths.
It was wonderful to see the enormous quantity they swallowed, cutting
off with their knives the portion they were unable to engulf between
their teeth. With smiles they invited us to imitate their example.
Hungry as we were, it was some time before we could bring ourselves to
put the horrible morsels into our mouths; but, finding that we were not
likely to get any other sort of food, we at length managed to eat a few
small pieces, our hosts appearing as much astonished at the smallness of
our appetites as we were at the huge quantities of the oleaginous food
they managed to consume.
After eating a few pieces, we overcame the nausea we had at first felt,
and contrived to get down a tolerable meal. For an hour or more our
hosts continued eating, when each took a draught of some greasy looking
soup which had been boiling over the lamp in the centre of the hut. It
was offered to us, but we preferred some plain water which had been
produced from snow melted over their lamp.
Observing that we declined to take any more of their dainty fare, they
made signs that they intended to go to sleep, by stripping off their
outer garments and stretching themselves on the skin-covered couches
which surrounded the hut. We gladly took the hint, and retired to our
own abode, which, although very much colder than the one we left, had a
decided advantage in being free from the horrible odour pervading the
other. When our door was closed our lamp soon brought the temperature
up to a comfortable warmth, and we slept with a sense of security we had
not for long enjoyed.
The next day we tried to induce our hosts to accompany us to the south.
They could understand our signs, but had evidently made up their minds
not to go. They were very friendly, however, and allowed us to move
about as we pleased. We, being unwilling to become a burden to them,
determined if possible to kill a bear, or a deer, or walrus should we
fail to find any of the former animals. We accordingly started off with
our guns, leaving our packs behind us to show that we intended to
return.
As the country to the southward appeared less rugged than that to the
north, we proceeded in the former direction, but found after a short
time that we could make but slow progress, so we descended to the ice,
intending to strike inland should we observe no more practicable
country. We had not proceeded far, however, before a heavy snow-storm
came on, which not only obliterated our tracks, but shut out even the
land from our sight.
"We shall be wise to turn back," observed Ewen, "for if we don't we may
easily become bewildered."
I agreed with him, and we at once determined to retrace our steps. We
walked on and on, supposing that we had the land on our left side. The
ice was tolerably level. We fancied that we had gone far enough to
reach the Esquimaux settlement. Still though we listened attentively,
we could not hear the voices of the inhabitants. We had scarcely taken
note of time, and we now, somewhat to our dismay, found that it was
rapidly growing dark. We hurried on, every now and then uttering a
shout in the expectation of hearing a reply. No reply came, however,
and we arrived at the alarming conclusion that we should have to spend
the night on the barren shore. To reach it we turned to the left, but
after going on some distance, we still failed to see the cliffs.
"We must stop here, for I can go no further," exclaimed Ewen. "It would
be better to build a hut than to wander about and at last perish with
cold."
I agreed with him, and although without any instruments save the butts
of our rifles, from which we withdrew the charges, we commenced
operations. As there was by this time abundance of snow, we were not
long in forming a hut of sufficient size to hold us both, either lying
down or sitting up. It would at all events prevent us being frozen to
death; though there was the risk, should the snow continue to fall, that
we might be buried alive. To prevent this, we agreed that one of us
should sit up and keep open a hole by thrusting through it the barrel of
a rifle.
After I had had my sleep, Ewen roused me up. Endeavouring to keep awake
I every now and then seized my rifle and thrust the barrel through the
hole, when I was startled by hearing a creature scratching away at the
entrance of our hut. That it was a bear I had no doubt, and should the
animal succeed in breaking in, it might seize one or both of us, as,
lying down with our weapons unloaded, we should be completely at its
mercy.
I roused up Ewen and advised him to reload his rifle while I did the
same, and I hoped that we should have time to shoot the intruder, before
he could seize us. We were, however, completely in the dark, though I
expected to get sight of our assailant directly it had torn away the
front of the hut.
"Perhaps if we shout we may drive it off," said Ewen.
I agreed with him, and we together raised our voices, but scarcely had
we done so than they were replied to by a loud bark, while the
scratching was continued with increased vehemence.
"Why, that must be a dog!" cried Ewen.
"And I know the voice," I said; "it is that of Bruno, our own Saint
Bernard."
I called his name, when I was answered by a peculiar bark and whine of
recognition.
No sooner had we arrived at this conclusion than, seconding the efforts
of the dog, we soon made an opening in the snow, and Bruno crept in and
began licking our faces and uttering barks to show his delight.
"He must have scented us out in spite of the snow, and followed us
here," I exclaimed. "Can our shipmates be near?"
That such was the case we had little doubt, and we agreed that should
Bruno show a wish to conduct us, we would accompany him. Scarcely had
we resolved on this, than Bruno ran out of the hut, and then came back
pulling at our trousers and leaving no doubt as to his intentions. We
therefore kept up alongside him as fast as we could move. He regulated
his pace to suit ours, otherwise in his delight he would evidently have
bounded away before us. At length, however, through the still falling
snow, we caught sight of what we concluded was the land, though in the
indistinct light we could not be certain that it was not a berg.
We shouted, expecting to hear a reply from our shipmates; but, instead,
a voice answered which we knew to be that of an Esquimaux. Presently we
found ourselves at the village we had left. Several of our friends came
out of their huts, uttering exclamations of surprise at Bruno, and
driving back their dogs, who began furiously barking at him. He had
evidently conducted us to the nearest human habitations. Still we were
convinced that Sandy's party could not be far off.
As verbal explanations were impossible, we tried to show by signs that
we had lost our way, and that the dog had found us. They then, guessing
that we must be starving, brought us a large piece of walrus flesh, the
greater portion of which, as may be supposed, we afterwards bestowed on
our faithful dog, who crept after us into our hut. Having eaten enough
of the meat to satisfy the cravings of hunger, we lay down and were soon
fast asleep. In the morning I was awakened by hearing the loud sound of
the rending and crashing of ice. On looking out I saw that the part of
the ice on which we had wandered was separated from that attached to the
shore, and was, with all the pieces beyond, in violent commotion. Had
we remained on it a few hours longer, we should inevitably have
perished.
Our friends seemed highly pleased. We saw them preparing their harpoons
and lines. Some dark objects appeared on the edge of the ice, and
several of them immediately started off, one of whom we followed,
keeping, however, at some distance, so as not to interfere with his
proceedings.
The objects we had seen were walruses. Though they immediately
afterwards slid off into the water, the Esquimaux continued his course
towards the spot with his eyes fixed on the water. He stopped; we saw
him lift his harpoon, and immediately afterwards the head of a huge
walrus appeared above the surface. It was but for a moment. The hunter
darted his weapon with all his force, and then unwound a long line which
he carried on his shoulder. With wonderful dexterity he played the
monster as a fisherman does the salmon he has hooked. Sometimes the
creature dived, and at others came up to the surface and looked as if he
intended to get on the ice and charge his enemy, but the hunter
retreated, keeping his line taut.
The hunter, seeing we were watching his proceedings, made a sign to us
to approach. As I did so, having my rifle in my hand, I fired, and the
shot entering the creature's head its struggles ceased. The Esquimaux,
highly delighted, thanked me for the assistance I had given him. It was
not until several of his companions arrived that we were able to haul
the walrus upon the ice. Soon afterwards Ewen shot another in the same
manner, thus raising us high in the estimation of our hosts. The other
hunters were equally successful, and there was great rejoicing in the
village at the abundance of meat which had been brought on shore.
Several kayaks were now brought out of a hut, where they had been
sheltered during the winter, and, being carried over the ice, were
launched into the open water. They were made of skins and entirely
covered over, with the exception of a small hole large enough to admit a
man's legs and the lower part of his body. Each hunter was provided
with a double paddle and harpoon. To the harpoon was attached by a line
a float made of a leathern bag inflated with air.
One end of the harpoon line was secured just below it, the other end
being made fast to the head of the harpoon. About half-a-dozen hunters
had taken their seats, for they had observed, what we had not, a whole
shoal of seals not far off. They immediately made chase. We eagerly
watched their proceedings. Presently the seals came to the surface,
when the Esquimaux, paddling on, soon got into their midst. The harpoon
being darted, the shaft, which was shaken out of the head, was allowed
to be towed with the float after the seal.
One after the other the hunters launched their weapons, and the seals
were seen swimming away in a vain endeavour to escape. The nimble
kayaks quickly overtook them, and the second harpoon seldom failed to
wound them mortally. Although they sank on being killed, the floats
served to show where they had gone down. One of the most wonderful
parts of the performance was the way in which the Esquimaux hauled up
the big seals and placed their bodies across their canoes; when, singing
songs of triumph, they returned to the ice, where friends stood by to
take possession of their prey.
Without even getting out of their canoes, they again darted off, and few
returned without another seal.
When we expressed our admiration of their kayaks, our friends showed us
several wonderful feats which they could perform in them. Two of them
started off together, one at right angles to the other, and almost in a
moment, without upsetting, the latter forced his canoe directly over it.
We saw a still more extraordinary feat. A man, having secured himself
tightly in his canoe with an apron fastened round his body, with a blow
of his paddle upset it, and with another brought it right again; and
thus he continued, turning round and round full twenty times or more, so
rapidly, that we could just catch sight of his paddle in the air before
it disappeared.
Our friends had another kind of boat which they called an "oomiak." It
was straight-sided, flat, and square-ended. The framework was made of
whalebone and covered over with seal-skin, almost transparent. It was
three feet deep, about twenty-five long, and eight wide. It was
propelled by two paddles, while an old man sat with another paddle in
the stern to steer. On seeing this primitive sort of boat, the idea
struck us that by its means we might be conveyed southward. We tried by
every means in our power to induce our friends either to lend us one or
to go with us.
We had already promised them our rifles, the value of which was greatly
increased now that they had seen their power. They had also taken a
great fancy to Bruno, and they at length gave us to understand that, if
we would make him over to them and give them a couple more rifles with
powder and shot, they would convey us as far as we wished to go.
We were sorry to have to part with Bruno, but, at the same time, we were
convinced that he would be perfectly happy and well-fed in the realms of
snow, where he might revel to his heart's delight.
We accordingly started the next morning with two men to paddle, and a
third to steer. The boat was also fitted with a very short mast,
stepped in the fore-part, and a sail composed of the intestines of the
walrus split open so as to form strips about four inches wide. These
strips were sewn together, and thus made a sail of great strength and
lightness. When the wind was favourable we were able to hoist it, and
it drove the oomiak along at a far greater speed than I should have
supposed possible.
The people allowed us to take our rifles, having no doubt, apparently,
that we would give them up at the end of the voyage. The whole tribe
stood ready on the ice to see us off, and vociferously uttered their
farewells, which we returned in like manner.
The weather was remarkably fine, and, although icebergs and floes
innumerable covered the surface of the water, we had no difficulty in
making our way between them. When one floe approached another, we with
ease jumped out and carried our light boat beyond the power of our
assailant. As we proceeded the floes became fewer and fewer, and we
made more rapid progress. At night we either landed on the shore or on
a fixed floe, and, creeping under the oomiak, slept on our bear-skins.
We harpooned a couple of seals and shot a bear, which afforded us
abundance of food. We were standing along the shore one evening when,
under a cliff, what was our astonishment to see a light. The Esquimaux
were inclined to avoid the place; for, pulling away, evidently alarmed,
they assured us that the spot would not afford comfortable
camping-ground.
We, however, were anxious to ascertain by what the light was produced,
feeling certain that some person must be on the shore who was making a
signal. At last we persuaded them to turn the boat's head towards the
beach.
As we approached, what was our astonishment to see a man standing at the
mouth of a cave, and holding a torch which, in his eagerness, as we drew
near, he flung into the air.
"Who are you?" shouted Ewen.
"An Englishman," was the answer.
We quickly leaped on the beach, and the stranger, advancing to meet us,
stretched out his hands.
"Thank Heaven you have come, for I was very near perishing," he
exclaimed. "My powder and shot were expended, and I had consumed the
last remnant of the meat of the last deer I had killed."
I replied that we had sailed in the _Hardy Norseman_, that she had been
lost on the ice, and that we had been separated from our companions.
"Why, that ship belonged to Dundee, the port I sailed from in the
_Barentz_."
"Are you, then, her surgeon, David Ogilvy?" I asked in a trembling
voice.
"I am," he answered.
"Then I am your younger brother," was my reply, and we threw ourselves
into each other's arms.
After recovering ourselves, I introduced Ewen, when my brother invited
him and the Esquimaux into his cavern. Though the entrance was small,
the interior was of considerable size, and had been made habitable by
means of skins and the wreck of the very sloop in which he had escaped.
Most of her crew, he told us, had left her in search of walruses, when a
storm arose, and she was driven among the ice on to the coast, the
remainder of his people perishing. He had providentially been able to
save two rifles and all the ammunition on board, together with the
larger part of her provisions. After finding shelter in the cavern, he
had discovered a path which led to the heights above. From thence he
had been able to make excursions into the interior, where he found
reindeer and musk-oxen in considerable numbers, together with mosses and
several herbs, with the qualities of which being acquainted he was able
to vary his food.
The next morning we loaded the oomiak with as many of the skins as she
could carry, and proceeded on our voyage. To our disappointment we
found our further progress stopped by a large field of ice, which had
been driven against the shore or had remained fixed to it since the
winter. We must either cross it--and it might extend for several miles,
besides being covered with hummocks--or we must paddle out seawards and
try to get round it. The latter proceeding did not appear to suit the
ideas of the Esquimaux. Rather than be delayed, however, they consented
to make the attempt, as we persuaded them that a passage might be found
further out. After we had gone a short distance, on looking seaward,
great was our astonishment to catch sight of a flag. Presently
afterwards we saw some dark dots on the floe, which had apparently come
in contact with the field of ice at present impeding our progress.
"Can it be possible that those are our shipmates?" exclaimed Ewen.
"I have no doubt about it," I answered. "I see three persons; perhaps
they are Sandy, Croil, and Hans. I trust that the poor fellows have
escaped."
To make sure I fired off my rifle, when the shot was replied to, though
the sound but faintly struck our ears. The Esquimaux had now not the
slightest hesitation of paddling out.
As we drew nearer other figures appeared who came to the edge of the
floe. Among them was my brother Andrew.
"It is our crew. The whole have escaped then," exclaimed Ewen, as we
made him out.
To our infinite satisfaction, Sandy himself was the next person we
distinguished, and several others who had seen the oomiak came hurrying
across the ice.
I have not time to describe the meeting of us three brothers, thus so
wonderfully preserved and reunited. Sandy had come upon the floe while
for a short time it remained fixed to the land-ice, and had arranged to
return the next morning to rescue us, when, to his dismay, he found that
it was in motion, and that any communication with the land was
impossible. The boats, being damaged, were unfit at present to be
launched, but the carpenters were very busily employed in repairing
them. It was the captain's intention to land as soon as they could get
opposite the settlement of Friedrichsthal, should the floe hold together
so long, or, should its disruption be threatened, to make the voyage in
the boats. We, of course, were willing to share the fortunes of our
friends.
On returning to the oomiak we bestowed the rifles and ammunition we had
promised on the honest Esquimaux, to which we added several other
articles of a sort they valued.
David, Ewen, and I were cordially welcomed by the captain, Sandy, and
the rest of the crew, who appeared to have suffered little from their
long exposure on the floe. The wreck of the _Hardy Norseman_, however,
had broken off and gone to the bottom. We had now the boats alone to
depend upon. Scarcely had the Esquimaux taken their departure and
paddled away than the floe began to move. As it did so I could not help
seeing our perilous position, for at any moment it might drive against a
berg, which might topple over and crush us. The wind, too, which had
until now been favourable, changed, and there appeared great probability
of our being again driven northward. Two days had thus passed, when the
look-out, who was stationed at a flag-staff on the top of a hummock,
shouted, "A sail, a sail!"
All hands quickly joined him, when we beheld the joyful sight of a ship
standing towards us, some way to the southward. She could not possibly
fail, we thought, to see our flag. We were not mistaken. On she came.
As if to hasten her progress, some of us fired off our guns, others
shouted. Several of the men danced and clapped their hands, and others
wept and rushed into each other's arms. Then, as the ship approached
and began to shorten sail, we ran down to the side of the floe on which
she was approaching, and waved our caps and cheered. As the floe was
steady, she glided up alongside, and threw her ice-anchors on to it.
"She's the _Barentz_!" exclaimed David, "though her appearance has
changed greatly for the better since I last saw her."
The _Barentz_ she was. Having been refitted, she had been the first
ship to sail from Dundee in search of us, her captain calculating that,
having escaped with our lives, we should be found not far off from the
spot where providentially he had fallen in with us.
The remaining stores and skins, together with those belonging to my
brother, and everything of value, were quickly hoisted on board, and the
_Barentz_, having already caught several whales, before long obtained a
full ship. Her head was then turned southward, and, after all our
wonderful adventures and hairbreadth escapes, we reached in safety the
port of Dundee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The End.