WRECKED
It was broad daylight. Remington and Ainsworth were gone. Bang! Bang!
Bang! The shots came in quick succession, and not far above the camp.
Paul was frightened for a moment, then highly excited. He disentangled
himself from his sleeping bag, sprang to the front of the tent and
shouted to Tom, who was unconcernedly cooking breakfast:
“What is it? What’s up?”
“Bears.”
He drew on his clothes as quickly as possible, grabbed his rifle and
ran in the direction of the shooting. A little way up the ravine he
came upon Remington, Ainsworth, Dan and Kuglutuk, surveying the
carcasses of two polar bears.
“Hello, Paul, you’re a little late for the fun,” greeted Remington.
“Got two,” said Ainsworth.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“No time for that. Dan was poking around up here and saw them coming,
and we had to hustle as it was.”
“It would only have taken a minute to call me.”
“Yes, but that would have been a minute too long, if they had happened
to get a sniff of camp, and only for the north breeze they would have
anyway, and been off before Dan saw them.”
“Did they put up any fight?”
“Didn’t have a chance. We got them quick. Close shot and no trick at
all. Nothing like your shot.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t up earlier. What were they doing on land? I
thought they kept to the ice.”
“No, we’re liable to see them anywhere on these shores. Guess they
were going down to catch a salmon breakfast in our pool at the foot of
the rapid.”
They saw no more bears while encamped on Richmond Gulf, though they
caught plenty of salmon and trout, and now and again took excursions
back into the hills and along the streams where ptarmigans were found,
or took advantage of excellent duck and goose shooting on near-by
lakes. Mallards and black ducks were plentiful, great flocks of wavies
flew overhead and the Canada gray goose was fairly numerous.
The sport was so good, in fact, that the week which they had
originally planned to remain ashore lengthened into two, and it was a
fortnight after their arrival when reluctantly they broke camp one
morning and returned to the _North Star_, carrying with them enough
salmon and trout to supply both cabin and forecastle for several days.
“Glad to see you! Glad to see you!” greeted Captain Bluntt as they
drew alongside the ship. “Good sport? Have a good time?”
“Bully!” answered Remington. “Never better. Salmon and trout hungry
for flies, and we got two bears in the bargain.”
“Good! Good, sir! And how did you find it, youngster?”
“Fine and dandy,” answered Paul. “Best time I ever had in my life.”
“Good! Good! Glad you’re aboard, Mr. Remington--glad you’re aboard.
Barometer falling rapidly--outlook for bad weather--northeast blow,
I’m thinkin’. Bad anchorage here. We’ll make for open sea. Get right
away. Growing a bit nervous about it, sir--just a bit nervous.”
“All right, Captain,” said Remington. “We’re ready to go.”
Anchor was weighed, and slowly the _North Star_ felt her way out of
the uncertain waters toward the wide bosom of Hudson Bay.
“Now,” asked Captain Bluntt, when they had gained “elbow room,” as he
expressed it, “what’s your pleasure, sir?”
“Well,” said Remington, “we want to have a little walrus hunting, we’d
like to pick up another bear or two, and I’m mighty anxious to get a
crack at caribou before we leave the country. Kuglutuk says, though,
that all the caribou on this side are far inland on the highlands, and
out of reach. I’ve been thinking that we might cross to the other side
somewhat south of Chesterfield Inlet, and perhaps find caribou there,
then cruise back along the islands looking for bear, and stop up
toward Mosquito Bay a few days for our walrus hunt before we strike
for home. Kuglutuk says the Eskimos up there will help us.”
“Good plan! Good plan, sir! But we must try to be through the straits
by middle of September. Taking chances, sir--taking chances with ice
if we’re any later, sir.”
“All right, Captain. That’ll give us over three weeks. We won’t spend
much time with walrus, but we’d like to get two or three heads for
trophies.”
The blow that was predicted came. It began with driving rain and
sleet, which swept the sea in blinding sheets, and a rising northeast
wind pounded Hudson Bay into a fury of wild white-crested waves that
tossed and buffeted the _North Star_. But Captain Bluntt was an able
master. He kept well offshore, faced the storm, and lay to, using only
enough power to permit him to hold his position, and making no attempt
to proceed upon the voyage.
Thus a week was consumed, and September was near at hand, when at
length the clouds wearied of their task, and the sun again shone out
of a clear sky through a glorious, transparent atmosphere.
But the northeast gale had reaped a harvest of ice from the Arctic
waters, sweeping it down into Hudson Bay, where the packs broke into
fragments, and vagrant pans were distributed far and wide, steadily
working their way southward. This was not bay ice such as had been
encountered off the eastern coast of Labrador, but the adamantine
product of the Arctic. There was little difficulty, however, in
avoiding the larger and widely distributed pans, and the smaller
fragments bobbing here and there in the swell were quite harmless to
the strongly built little steamship.
“Looks bad for the straits, sir, bad,” remarked Captain Bluntt,
descending from the barrel in the foremast. “I’m thinkin’ th’ straits
has plenty of ice now, plenty, sir. Bad place to meet ice, sir! Bad
place! But if the weather holds calm for a week most of it’ll work
out.”
“Are we likely to have trouble getting through the straits, Captain?”
“No! No! We’ll get through all right, sir, we’ll get through, with no
more nor’easters or northers. A bit of a westerly breeze would clean
the straits, sir, sweep the ice right out. Yes, sir, sweep it out!”
They turned northward, cruised close in along the Ottawa Islands,
where Remington shot another bear, and then turned westward, where at
length anchorage was made at 60° north latitude opposite Egg River and
nearly a mile from its mouth.
“Not safe to run too close in,” explained Captain Bluntt. “Never like
to anchor too close inshore when I’ve no cover, sir. Not safe, not
safe. Always afraid of the rocks, sir, if a squall should strike me.”
“This is near enough,” said Remington. “It’s a short pull to the river
mouth.”
“Now what’s the plan, sir? Going ashore to hunt caribou, you say?
Well, you may find them in there around the lakes, sir. Must be lakes
back there. Yes, sir, and caribou.”
“That’s the way we figure it. This is Sunday. Tomorrow morning as
soon as we can see, Ainsworth and I will start, and take Kuglutuk with
us, and I’d like to have Tom if you can spare him, Captain.”
“Spare him? Yes! Yes! To be sure I can spare him.”
“We’re not going to take Paul, for we’ll have some hard tramping to
do, and I’m afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep the pace.”
“No, no, don’t take him. Too soft; couldn’t stand it. ’Twould kill him
in a day. Yes, sir, in a day.”
“We’ll take one light shelter tent, a blanket each, a couple of axes,
and besides our rifles only four days’ provisions. We can carry them
easily, and we’ll be back to the place where the boat leaves us on
Thursday afternoon, no later than two o’clock. So a boat may come over
for us then, and will surely find us waiting.”
“All right, sir, all right. But suppose you gets your deer the first
day? What then, sir?”
“Why then we’ll come down to the shore and shoot. If you hear us
shooting, why, send for us.”
“Very good, sir, very good. All very good.”
“I suppose Paul will set up a kick against our leaving him, but it’s
out of the question to take him. Can’t you let Dan and him have a
small boat to go ashore every day and hunt ptarmigans, or fish in the
river? Dan is perfectly reliable, isn’t he?”
“Yes, yes, sir. Dan reliable? True and sure, sir. Good as a man. Good
head, sir. Good head. Only a lad, sir, but good as a man. Be a skipper
himself, sir, some day. Yes, yes; Dan can take the youngster over.”
Paul, who had been standing aft, examining the coast through
binoculars, came forward at this juncture to join Remington and
Captain Bluntt.
“Pretty rough looking country over there,” said he. “What have you
planned to do? Are we going to hunt caribou?”
“Yes, Ainsworth and I have planned to go ashore tomorrow and hike back
into the hills for three or four days, to see if we can’t run on some
caribou. I’m afraid, though, you are not hardened up enough for it
yet. We’ve got to travel fast and there’ll be no sleeping bags.
You’ll stay here and Dan will take you ashore to hunt and fish, and
you can amuse yourself that way until we get back on Thursday.”
“Oh, now, that’s pretty tough! I’m sure I can walk as fast as you
can.”
“And carry a back load of stuff?”
“Of course I never tried that, and I don’t see why I should. There are
men enough to do the work.”
“The more men there are the less ground can be covered, and this is a
hunting trip where we’ve got to do fast work, and every one must do a
man’s work. No, Paul, it’s too hard for you. You and Dan can have a
good time here till we come back.”
“There won’t be anything to do here but hang around the old ship. I
think you might let me go with you fellows.”
“As I said, you won’t have to hang around the ship. You and Dan go
ashore. Take one of the tents if you’d like, and camp over there. Dan
knows how to handle things. He’ll give you a good time.”
“Well, I suppose if you don’t want me I can’t go, but I think it’s a
pretty rough deal just the same,” and he went off sulking.
Paul had not yet learned that he could not have or do anything his
fancy craved. But he held his host in high esteem. He was thoroughly
grateful for the opportunity to take part in the expedition, and at
the end of half an hour, when he had had time to consider his actions,
he became quite ashamed of his childishness and his lack of courtesy
to his host, and, naturally of a frank and open disposition, he
approached Remington, put out his hand and said:
“Mr. Remington, I want to apologize for the way I acted and what I
said awhile ago. I’m sorry for it. You’ve given me the greatest time
of my life and I appreciate it.”
“That’s all right, Paul,” and Remington shook his hand warmly. “It’s
given me a lot of pleasure to have you along. I knew you’d look at
this thing right. I’d like to take you with us, but you can see it
would be too hard work for you. You haven’t been at the game long
enough yet.”
“I guess that’s right.”
Remington and Ainsworth did not appear at breakfast in the morning,
and when Paul took his seat he asked:
“Where are the others, Captain?”
“Gone. Gone these two hours. Away up country by this time. For my part
I can’t see the fun in it. No, by the imps of the sea! Cruising over
rocks and mountains just for deer. Just for deer! Fun, though, maybe,
for them that likes it. Yes, maybe ’tis. Give me th’ sea, an’ a good
deck under my feet. Good enough for me! Yes, good enough for me, or
any sensible man.”
“Mr. Remington said Dan could go ashore with me and camp.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Dan knows. I told him. Ready any time. Told him
to get ready. Hope you’ll have a good time.”
“We’ll have a good time all right.”
“Comin’ back tonight? Going to camp? Oh, yes, you said you would
camp.”
“Yes, we’ll camp. No need of coming back till Thursday. The other
fellows won’t be back till then.”
“Very well, very well; stay till Thursday. Two o’clock. Remember be
aboard at two sharp. Got to get away, get through the straits. No
being late, now! Remember Sydney! Felt like wringing your neck that
day. I did, by the imps of the sea. Heave you overboard or wring your
neck if you’re late!”
Paul glanced up at Captain Bluntt and discovered a good-humored
twinkle in the Captain’s eye, though there was no doubt that he was
quite in earnest as to the admonition to return on time.
“All right, Captain; we’ll be on time,” Paul laughed.
“That’s right. That’s right. Always be on time. When you says you’ll
do a thing, do it.”
But Paul had not yet learned his lesson.
Dan stowed sufficient provisions in a light punt to meet the needs of
a few days’ camping excursion, a light axe, a small sheet-iron tent
stove--for Dan was uncertain of finding sufficient wood for an open
camp-fire to keep them comfortable during the cold evenings
evenings--a small tent, a tarpaulin, cooking utensils and two
sleeping bags. Each carried his rifle--Dan’s a light 44-40
carbine--and Paul did not forget his favorite steel fly rod.
“Two o’clock Thursday. No later! No later than two, now!” Captain
Bluntt admonished as they drew away from the ship.
The mile to the mouth of Egg River was a short pull for Dan, and he
found that with a little maneuvering he was able to work the boat a
considerable distance up the river itself, to the first clump of
straggling spruce trees.
Here it was decided to make camp, and while Dan pitched the tent and
put things in order Paul wandered up the stream and soon had a fine
trout on his hook.
Fishing was good, many delightful tramps were taken over the rolling
hills, and only too quickly Thursday rolled around.
“What’s the hour?” inquired Dan as they finished their dinner.
Paul looked at his watch.
“Half past twelve.”
“We’ll have to be gettin’ back t’ th’ ship.”
“All right. Pack things up. While you’re doing it, guess I’ll have
one more try at the fish.”
“Now don’t be goin’ too far,” cautioned Dan, who had learned Paul’s
failing. “Th’ skipper’s wonderful keen on bein’ on time.”
“Oh, I won’t go far.”
Half an hour later, when Dan had the camp things stowed neatly in the
boat, and all was ready for departure, he called:
“Hello-o, Paul!”
No answer.
He followed up the river bank, calling again and again, but had gone
nearly a mile before he received an answering “Hello!”
Paul had a big trout hooked, and was playing him.
“Great sport. Didn’t get a strike till I hit this pool just now and
this is the second, already.”
“’T is time t’ be off,” said Dan, “and late.”
“Oh, there’s no such rush as that. I want to take some trout back with
me.”
“Th’ skipper’s wonderful keen on bein’ on time.”
“Oh, he didn’t mean _just_ two o’clock, but around that time.
Besides, they weren’t going after the other fellows till two.”
“’T was two o’clock.”
Dan was patient for fifteen minutes longer, while Paul fished.
“We can’t tarry, Paul. We _must_ be goin’.”
“Now don’t nag.”
“’T is no naggin’. Th’ skipper’ll be wonderful angry.”
“Oh, I don’t think he’ll mind if we’re not there exactly at two.”
It was half past two when Dan finally said:
“An’ now we’re goin’,” with a tone of finality that angered Paul.
“Oh, are we?” Paul was unhooking a trout.
“Th’ sky looks nasty to me, an’ th’ wind’s breezin’ up, an’ there’s a
fog settlin’ below.”
“I don’t see any fog, and the sky looks all right to me.”
“Comin’?”
“No.”
“But you is.”
“You ain’t my master. I guess I’ll do as I please.”
“You is _comin’_.”
Dan had stepped close to Paul, who was preparing to make another cast.
“When I get ready.”
“You is comin’ _now_,” and Dan took Paul forcibly by the arm.
“Let go of me!”
“You is comin’,” and he tightened his grip.
“Take that!” Paul slapped Dan square in the face with open palm.
Then a whirlwind seemed to strike Paul, and before he knew what had
taken place he found himself on the ground, and Dan on top of him.
“Is you comin’?”
“Yes! Let me up!” Paul was half crying with anger.
“You’ll be sorry for this!” he exclaimed when he was free, but he
followed Dan sulkily down to the boat.
Dan was right. A fog was settling below. Even then it was pushing its
way up the river, and before they reached the open sea it had
swallowed up the river bank, which had become quite invisible beyond
the river’s mouth. The boys could scarcely see two boat’s lengths
ahead. The murky cloud enveloped sea, land, everything. Ice pans
seemed much more numerous than when they went ashore. Now and again a
pan would loom up in the fog, ominously near, rising and sinking with
the swell. It was uncanny, and Paul became frightened. Dan pulled
steadily at the oars for some time. At length he paused.
“We should have been comin’ on she,” said he. “I’m fearin’ we’re a bit
too far t’ th’ s’uthard.”
He shifted his course somewhat. A moment later a huge bulk of ice
appeared directly in front of them. Dan swerved the boat to port, but
he was too late, and almost before they realized their danger the pan
struck them with the rising swell, and nearly capsized the boat. Water
at once poured in through a great rent in the starboard bow, and
immediately it became apparent they were sinking.
Like a flash, painter in hand, Dan sprang upon the ice pan.
“Jump! Quick!” he shouted to Paul, who, without knowing how he did
it, sprang to the pan, slipped, gained his feet, and was safe upon the
ice.
“Take this! Hold on tight!” commanded Dan, passing the painter to
Paul. Working like mad, while Paul steadied the boat, Dan transferred
their belongings from boat to pan, save one sleeping bag and one oar,
which were washed away in spite of him. The boat lightened of its
burdens, he baled the water out, and drew its bow around to the ice.
“Now pull!” He had grabbed the bow of the boat. “Pull! Pull!” he
encouraged, and their united strength drew the boat upon the pan.
Paul had not, until then, had an opportunity to appreciate their
position. Now he looked about him, and with one glance took in the
critical situation in which they were placed. The pan of ice was
not over sixty feet in diameter, waves were breaking over its
edges, they were out of reach of land, the boat was quite
useless. Then came a flash of the imagination--lost in the dark
water--struggling--drowning. All this he saw in an instant. Panic
seized him--a wild, awful fear of impending death--and he screamed:
“Help! Help! Save us! Save us! We’re lost! Help! Help! Help!”
“That’s right,” said Dan, “holler. If the ship ain’t too far off
they’ll hear,” and he joined his voice to Paul’s. But no answering
call came out of the fog. At length Dan said:
“Tide’s risin’, wind’s n’uthard, an’ our drift’s strong t’ th’
s’uthard. They ain’t hearin’. Get your rifle, an’ I finds cartridges.
We’ll be shootin’ signals.”
The outfit hastily thrown in a heap was pulled over by Dan. Paul was
too excited and nervous to remember in which of his two bags the
ammunition was packed, and Dan could not find the cartridges for his
own carbine. Finally, after unpacking both bags, Dan discovered not
only Paul’s cartridges but his own, which Paul had inadvertently
thrown in one of his bags the previous day.
Paul’s rifle was quickly loaded, Dan fired, and they listened
intently. No response came, and he fired again and again, until
presently the welcome sound of a distant rifle shot came faintly out
of the fog. Their hopes rose, but the distant shots in response to
their own grew fainter and fainter, and at length could no longer be
heard.
Dan finally laid down the rifle, with the remark:
“They ain’t no use shootin’ any more. Th’ wind’s comin’ down from th’
ship, an’ if we can’t hear they, sure no one will be hearin’ us. Th’
skipper’s not knowin’ we been wrecked, an’ he’ll not be sendin’ a
boat. He’ll be thinkin’ we’ll pull for th’ ship with the shootin’ t’
guide us. ’T ain’t no use.”
Paul’s hope of rescue, which had become a certainty when he heard the
shots, now gave place to despair, and he threw himself upon the ice,
moaning:
“We’re lost! Oh, we’re lost! We’re lost!”
“Keep un nerve,” soothed Dan. “They ain’t no knowin’ what’ll happen.
Dad tells un, ‘When you gets in a bad place, Dan, keep un nerve. More
folks,’ says he, ‘dies from losin’ they nerve than dies from most
anything else. Whilst they’s life they’s a chanst,’ says he.”
[Illustration: “Keep un nerve,” soothed Dan]
Finally Dan’s philosophy quieted Paul to some extent. Black darkness
settled upon the sea. The fog, if possible, grew denser. It obscured
the stars--everything, even the lapping waves which were steadily but
surely eating away the edges of the ice pan.