Produced by Al Haines
[Frontispiece: From it was evoked a monstrous shape.]
"Above this far northern sea Ursa
Major sailed so directly overhead
that he seemed like to fall on us."
--_From an early voyage to the coast of Labrador_.
Under the Great Bear
BY
KIRK MUNROE
AUTHOR OF
"The Flamingo Feather," "Dorymates," "The White Conquerors," Etc.
New York
International Association of Newspapers and Authors
1901
COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
I. GRADUATION: BUT WHAT NEXT?
II. AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
III. THE STRANGE FATE OF A STEAMER
IV. ALONE ON THE LIFE RAFT
V. WHITE BALDWIN AND HIS "SEA BEE"
VI. THE FRENCH SHORE QUESTION
VII. DEFYING A FRIGATE
VIII. A CLASSMATE TO BE AVOIDED
IX. SENDING IN A FALSE REPORT
X. CABOT ACQUIRES A LOBSTER FACTORY
XI. BLUFFING THE BRITISH NAVY
XII. ENGLAND AND FRANCE COME TO BLOWS
XIII. A PRISONER OF WAR
XIV. THE "SEA BEE" UNDER FIRE
XV. OFF FOR LABRADOR
XVI. MOSQUITOES OF THE FAR NORTH
XVII. IMPRISONED BY AN ICEBERG
XVIII. FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE NATIVES
XIX. A MELANCHOLY SITUATION
XX. COMING OF THE MAN-WOLF
XXI. A WELCOME MISSIONARY
XXII. GOOD-BYE TO THE "SEA BEE"
XXIII. THE COMFORT OF AN ESKIMO LAMP
XXIV. OBJECTS OF CHARITY
XXV. LOST IN A BLIZZARD
XXVI. AN ELECTRICIAN IN THE WILDERNESS
XXVII. THE MAN-WOLF'S STORY
XXVIII. CABOT IS LEFT ALONE
XXIX. DRIFTING WITH THE ICE PACK
XXX. THE COMING OF DAVID GIDGE
XXXI. ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE MAN-WOLF MINE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
From It Was Evoked A Monstrous Shape . . . _Frontispiece_
On The Deck Of The Steamer "Lavinia"
He Began To Kick At It With The Hope Of Smashing
One Of Its Panels
At This The Enraged Officer Whipped Out A Revolver
"Did This Come From About Here?"
Others Fell On The New-Comers With Their Fists
Livid With Rage, The Frenchman Whipped Out An
Ugly-Looking Knife
A Solitary Figure Stood On The Chest Of A Bald Headland
"Yim"
"My Name Is Watson Balfour"
He Reached A Point From Which He Could Look Beyond The Barrier
"My Dear Boy, You Have Done Splendidly"
UNDER THE GREAT BEAR.
CHAPTER I.
GRADUATION: BUT WHAT NEXT?
"Heigh-ho! I wonder what comes next?" sighed Cabot Grant as he tumbled
wearily into bed.
The day just ended marked the close of a most important era in his
life; for on it he had been graduated from the Technical Institute, in
which he had studied his chosen profession, and the coveted sheepskin
that entitled him to sign M.E. in capital letters after his name had
been in his possession but a few hours.
Although Cabot came of an old New England family, and had been given
every educational advantage, he had not graduated with honours, having,
in fact, barely scraped through his final examination. He had devoted
altogether too much time to athletics, and to the congenial task of
acquiring popularity, to have much left for study. Therefore, while it
had been pleasant to be one of the best-liked fellows in the Institute,
captain of its football team, and a leading figure in the festivities
of the day just ended, now that it was all over our lad was regretting
that he had not made a still better use of his opportunities.
A number of his classmates had already been offered fine positions in
the business world now looming so ominously close before him. Little
pale-faced Dick Chandler, for instance, was to start at once for South
Africa, in the interests of a wealthy corporation. Ned Burnett was to
be assistant engineer of a famous copper mine; a world-renowned
electrical company had secured the services of Smith Redfield, and so
on through a dozen names, no one of which was as well known as his, but
all outranking it on the graduate list of that day.
Cabot had often heard that the career of Institute students was closely
watched by individuals, firms, and corporations in need of young men
for responsible positions, and had more than once resolved to graduate
with a rank that should attract the attention of such persons. But
there had been so much to do besides study that had seemed more
important at the time, that he had allowed day after day to slip by
without making the required effort, and now it appeared that no one
wanted him.
Yes, there was one person who had made him a proposition that very day.
Thorpe Walling, the wealthiest fellow in the class, and one of its few
members who had failed to gain a diploma, had said:
"Look here, Grant, what do you say to taking a year's trip around the
world with me, while I coach for a degree next June? There is no such
educator as travel, you know, and we'll make a point of going to all
sorts of places where we can pick up ideas. At the same time it'll be
no end of a lark."
"I don't know," Cabot had replied doubtfully, though his face had
lighted at the mere idea of taking such a trip. "I'd rather do that
than almost anything else I know of, but----"
"If you are thinking of the expense," broke in the other.
"It isn't that," interrupted Cabot, "but it seems somehow as though I
ought to be doing something more in the line of business. Anyway, I
can't give you an answer until I have seen my guardian, who has sent me
word to meet him in New York day after to-morrow. I'll let you know
what he says, and if everything is all right, perhaps I'll go with you."
With this the matter had rested, and during the manifold excitements of
the day our lad had not given it another thought, until he tumbled into
bed, wondering what would happen next. Then for a long time he lay
awake, considering Thorpe's proposition, and wishing that it had been
made by any other fellow in the class.
Until about the time of entering the Technical Institute, from which he
was just graduated, Cabot Grant, who was an only child, had been
blessed with as happy a home as ever a boy enjoyed. Then in a breath
it was taken from him by a railway accident, that had caused the
instant death of his mother, and which the father had only survived
long enough to provide for his son's immediate future by making a will.
By its terms his slender fortune was placed in the hands of a trust and
investment company, who were constituted the boy's guardians, and
enjoined to give their ward a liberal education along such lines as he
himself might choose.
The corporation thus empowered had been faithful to its trust, and had
carried out to the letter the instructions of their deceased client
during the past five years. Now less than a twelvemonth of their
guardianship remained and it was to plan for his disposal of this time
that Cabot had been summoned to New York.
He had never met the president of the corporation, and it was with no
little curiosity concerning him that he awaited, in a sumptuously
appointed anteroom, his turn for an audience with the busy man. At
length he was shown into a plainly furnished private office occupied by
but two persons, one somewhat past middle age, with a shrewd,
smooth-shaven face, and the other much younger, who was evidently a
private secretary.
Of course Cabot instantly knew the former to be President Hepburn; and
also, to his surprise, recognised him as one who had occupied a
prominent position on the platform of the Institute hall when he had
graduated two days earlier.
"Yes," said Mr. Hepburn, in a crisp, business tone, as he noted the
lad's flash of recognition, "I happened to be passing through and
dropped in to see our ward graduate. I was, of course, disappointed
that you did not take higher rank. At the same time I concluded not to
make myself known to you, for fear of interfering with some of your
plans for the day. It also seemed to me better that we should talk
business here. Now, with your Institute career ended, how do you
propose to spend the remainder of your minority? I ask because, as you
doubtless know, our instructions are to consult your wishes in all
matters, and conform to them as far as possible."
"I appreciate your kindness in that respect," replied Cabot, who was
somewhat chilled by this business-like reception, "and have decided, if
the funds remaining in your hands are sufficient for the purpose, to
spend the coming year in foreign travel; in fact, to take a trip around
the world."
"With any definite object in view," inquired Mr. Hepburn, "or merely
for pleasure?"
"With the definite object of studying my chosen profession wherever I
may find it practised."
"Um! Just so. Do you propose to take this trip alone or in company?"
"I propose to go with Thorpe Walling, one of my classmates."
"Son of the late General Walling, and a man who failed to graduate, is
he not?"
"Yes, sir. Do you know him?"
"I knew his father, and wish you had chosen some other companion."
"I did not choose him. He chose me, and invited me to go with him."
"At your own expense, I suppose?"
"Certainly! I could not have considered his proposition otherwise."
"Of course not," agreed Mr. Hepburn, "seeing that you have funds quite
sufficient for such a venture, if used with economy. And you have
decided that you would rather spend the ensuing year in foreign travel
with Thorpe Walling than do anything else?"
"I think I have, sir."
"Very well, my boy. While I cannot say that I consider your decision
the best that could be made, I have no valid objections to offer, and
am bound to grant as far as possible your reasonable desires. So you
have my consent to this scheme, if not my whole approval. When do you
plan to start?"
"Thorpe wishes to go at once."
"Then, if you will call here to-morrow morning at about this hour, I
will have arranged for your letter of credit, and anything else that
may suggest itself for making your trip a pleasant one."
"Thank you, sir," said Cabot, who, believing the interview to be ended,
turned to leave the room.
"By the way," continued Mr. Hepburn, "there is another thing I wish to
mention. Can you recommend one of your recent classmates for an
important mission, to be undertaken at once to an out-of-the-way part
of the world? He must be a young man of good morals, able to keep his
business affairs to himself, not afraid of hard work, and willing as
well as physically able to endure hardships. His intelligence and
mental fitness will, of course, be guaranteed by the Institute's
diploma. Our company is in immediate need of such a person, and will
engage him at a good salary for a year, with certain prospects of
advancement, if he gives satisfaction. Think it over and let me know
in the morning if you have hit upon one whom you believe would meet
those requirements. In the meantime please do not mention the subject
to any one."
Charged with this commission, and relieved that the dreaded interview
was ended, Cabot hastened uptown to a small secret society club of
which he was a non-resident member. There he wrote a note to Thorpe
Walling, accepting his invitation, and expressing a readiness to set
forth at once on their proposed journey. This done, he joined a group
of fellows who were discussing summer plans in the reading-room.
"What are you going in for, Grant?" asked one. "Is your summer to be
devoted to work or play?"
"Both," laughed Cabot. "Thorpe Walling and I are to take an
educational trip around the world, during which we hope to have great
fun and accomplish much work."
"Ho, ho!" jeered he who had put the question. "That's a good one. The
idea of coupling 'Torpid' Walling's name with anything that savors of
work. You'll have a good time fast enough. But I'll wager anything
you like, that in his company you will circumnavigate the globe without
having done any work harder than spending money. No, no, my dear boy,
'Torpid' is not the chap to encourage either mental or physical effort
in his associates. Better hunt some other companion, or even go by
your lonely, if you really want to accomplish anything."
These words recurred to our lad many times during the day, and when he
finally fell asleep that night, after fruitlessly wondering who of his
many friends he should recommend to President Hepburn, they were still
ringing in his ears.