canoe reel and dance. If it had been a small whale, or even a sea-lion,
that the boy had undertaken to capture in this fashion, it would have
dragged down the canoe, harpoon, rope, and all, leaving to Polargno the
pleasant task of swimming home and telling the news. But the seal was
not quite strong enough for this, though it did its best; and, each
time that it rose to the surface after “sounding,” Polargno wound the
line tighter and tighter around the strong supports to which it was
fastened. In this way he brought the seal nearer and nearer the canoe.
By the time its strength was pretty well spent it had so short a line
that it could dive only a few feet below the surface. And then Polargno
began to wonder how he should get it to the shore when it was dead. It
would be too heavy a body for him to manage alone, and there was no one
in sight on the shore to whom he could call for help. He did not wish
to cut the body adrift, for then he was not likely to get it again.
Suddenly there flashed into his mind a brilliant thought. The seal
should take itself to the shore, and take him too! He seated himself
firmly in the boat, and took up the paddle. With this he hit the seal a
whack on the side, and, in darting away to the opposite direction from
the blow, the animal headed for the shore. It could not dive, but it
made a grand rush through the water, drawing the boat swiftly along.
A few such rushes brought it to the shore. Whenever it made a turn to
the right or left, the paddle reminded it to keep the straight path.
Polargno had never heard of Neptune’s chariot with its dolphin steeds,
and was therefore unconscious that he was working out a poetical idea,
but he was very proud of the success of his stratagem, especially as it
possessed an element of danger. If his charger had taken it into its
head to back against the boat, and to give it a blow with its tail, it
would have stove it in, and if it had given Polargno a whack at the
same time it would probably have killed him. But the seal was too weak
from loss of blood, or too ignorant to think of any such revenge, and
rushed upon the beach at last, dragging Polargno’s boat up with such
violence that he was shot out of it in a twinkling.
He fell upon the soft sand and was not hurt. When he stood upon his
feet he found that his father, and one of the neighbors had come to the
shore to look after the boats, and had witnessed the last part of his
extraordinary journey. He was very glad of this, for he had thought his
story would not be believed in the village.
The seal was soon killed, and yielded a good deal of oil and blubber.
After this, the people of the village looked upon Polargno as a very
clever and brave fellow, and they laughed at him no more about the
trick the fox had played him.
[Illustration: AFTER THEM CAME THE WHALING SHIPS.]
In due course of time, the whales came up, and, after them came the
whaling ships. There were whales enough for both the Esquimaux and the
whalers. The former laid in large supplies for winter use, and the
latter loaded their ships with oil. But the fishing was so very good
that one of the whalers staid rather late for such a very northern
latitude. From time to time the captain had resolved to go, but a fresh
temptation in the shape of a big whale would induce him to defer his
departure; and the last of September found the ship still cruising
about in that latitude.
[Illustration: FROZEN UP.]
By that time the whales were gone, and the vessel was full, and they
were really on the point of departure, when, unfortunately, there came
upon them a few days of excessively cold weather that was very unusual
so early in the season. In a short time the bay was frozen, and the
vessel tightly enclosed in the ice. The sailors now began seriously to
fear that they would have to winter in that dreadful climate, when,
to their joy, the weather moderated somewhat, and the ice broke up.
They soon found, however, that this condition of things was worse than
the other, for there was great danger of the ship being crushed by the
huge masses of loose ice that pressed upon it on every side. The crew
worked hard to save the ship, but it is doubtful whether they would
have succeeded had it not been for the help of the friendly Esquimaux,
who did everything in their power for their visitors.
At one time, they all gave up the ship as lost. The ice closed around
them with such a crushing force, that the captain and crew fled to the
shelter of the Esquimaux snow houses, where they were most hospitably
received, and preparations were made to entertain them all winter.
But the vessel escaped, it seemed, almost by a miracle, and the crew
returned to it very soon. Then the ice broke up into smaller pieces
and drifted away towards the open sea, and the ship prepared to follow
as soon as the channel should be sufficiently open. The Esquimaux bade
farewell to the whalers, and went off on an expedition, partly for
hunting, but chiefly to gather in their dogs and reindeer under shelter
for the winter, leaving a few old men and boys to guard the settlement.
Polargno happened to be one of the boys left behind. The day after the
expedition started he walked down to the shore to see if the bay was
sufficiently open for the ship to start on its voyage. He found that
the vessel was enclosed in thin ice which extended for quite a distance
beyond in a solid sheet. But, as the weather was still moderating,
this ice would probably break up in a few hours. Some sailors were
packing up their things in a tent they had occupied on the shore.
They evidently expected certainly to get away this time. But, before
Polargno reached the place, they ran out of the tent, and down towards
the beach with exclamations of horror. Polargno ran after them, and
soon discovered the cause of their excitement.
Lower down could be seen the open sea, and, rising and falling on
the waves were blocks of ice, some large and some small. On one of
the largest floes stood a sailor, trying to ward off the attack of a
polar bear. The bear had evidently just arrived upon the scene, and
was walking around the man, preparatory to making a rush upon him. If
he once closed with the sailor there was small chance of the latter
escaping with his life. The ice floe, on which they both stood, was
now almost stationary, having become wedged in a mass of light, loose
pieces that were swaying back and forth on the water.
Having taken in this situation at a glance, Polargno did not hesitate
an instant, but ran down the shore at his best speed to a spot opposite
the ice-floe. The four sailors followed, but they could not equal the
speed of the Esquimaux boy, and when they arrived he had taken off
his outer suit and boots, retaining only his in-door suit, and light
seal-skin boots. The sailors could not imagine what the boy was about,
but their attention was absorbed in their comrade who was in such
deadly peril, and they paid little heed to Polargno. Two of them had
guns, but they found to their dismay, that these were of no use. The
distance was too great for them to aim at any particular spot of the
beast’s body, and a polar bear is very hard to kill, unless a vital
part is struck. If he were only wounded he would be so infuriated that
the sailor’s case would be hopeless. And, besides, the bear was now on
the farther side of the block of ice, and was thus partly covered from
their fire by the man’s body.
All this had passed in the space of a very few minutes; and now, while
they were wondering what they could do, and watching for a chance to
fire, the sailors suddenly discovered that the Esquimaux boy was far on
his way to the help of their comrade. He had made no boast of what he
was going to do. He had asked for no help. He knew they could not give
him any. The thin cakes of ice, which dipped into the water under his
light tread, would have sunk with the weight of one of the sailors. He
saw that a fellow-creature was in danger of being killed by a ferocious
animal; and, at once, without a care for his own personal safety, he
went to the rescue. He had, in his belt, his knife and his hatchet,
and, on these, and his dexterity and quickness, and knowledge of the
ways of polar bears, he relied for success.
The sailors watched him, full of admiration for his courage, and for
his skill in jumping the floating cakes of ice that one would scarcely
expect to bear the weight of a bird. He seemed to select the largest
and strongest pieces, by a sort of quick instinct, and bounded from one
to another as lightly as a cat. A foot went into the water at nearly
every step, but he did not sink.
Meantime the bear had advanced upon the sailor, who, it now was seen,
had a knife in his hand, prepared to do his best.
The Esquimaux boy had now reached the pack of loose ice against which
the ice floe had rested. This was firm, and he paused an instant,
before springing on to the floe. The sailors thought his courage had
failed at the last moment. But no! Polargno knew there was no time to
lose, and he required only this instant to see where he could best
strike the bear. There was no vital part at which he could get a good
stroke. All he could do at first was to divert the bear’s attention
from the sailor to himself.
He threw his hatchet straight at the side of the bear that was exposed
to him. It sank through the tough skin into the flesh, but the wound
was not a very severe one. The astonished animal turned, and, seeing
the boy who had now sprung upon the ice floe, not a dozen yards from
him, he made towards this new comer in a great rage.
But Polargno was ready for him. He sprang aside, and quickly struck his
knife into the side of the bear. The animal fell, but was not killed,
and it tried to stagger up again; but, by this time, the sailor had
recovered his senses, for he had stood apparently stupefied when the
bear left him. He now came to the boy’s assistance, and, together, they
soon put an end to their formidable foe.
Polargno pulled off his hood, and waved it in the air, and shouted
“Hurrah!” This word and action he had learned from the sailors. By this
time the whole crew had come down from the ship, and they also joyfully
waved their hats, and shouted “Hurrah!”
But the two must be taken off the ice-floe before it went sailing
out into the sea. The pack of ice was, even now, moving faster, and
gave signs of breaking up. So a boat was got down from the ship as
speedily as possible, and some of the sailors, steering in and out of
the floating ice, went to their relief, and took them safely to the
shore. They intended to leave the carcass of the bear, but it went to
Polargno’s heart to see so much good meat wasted, and he begged so hard
for it, that the sailors waited long enough to tow it to shore, though
they were in a hurry to get back before the upper ice field broke up.
You may wonder how the sailor and the bear got off on this ice-floe
together; as you, no doubt, feel sure they did not make an appointment
to meet there. The sailor told how he came there. It happened this
way: The day before, he had lost a small wallet, containing some of
his valuables, among the ice hummocks near the shore. As soon as he
discovered his loss he searched for the bag, and his companions aided
him. It could not be found, and, this day, while the men were occupied
in packing up the last of their effects, he went out on the ice to look
once more among the hummocks for his wallet. He wandered some distance
out, but the ice was solid and firm. Suddenly he heard a noise like a
sharp thunder clap, and the next instant he was floating out into the
open sea, with blocks of ice swirling and tumbling about him in all
directions. The ice had broken loose, and there was no way for him to
reach the shore. He called and shouted, but his cries did not reach
the ship, or the men in the tent. He was afraid the floe he was on
would go to pieces before he could be rescued, and he knew it would be
impossible for him to swim through the masses of loose ice. His swift
course was fortunately arrested by the ice-pack, and he hoped there
would be time to rescue him before it was all swept away by the waves,
as he was sure he must soon be missed by his companions in the tent.
Just as he was comforting himself with this thought, he turned, and
saw a large polar bear sitting upon its haunches very near him, and
regarding him attentively.
As the polar bear is dead, and as he was not able to tell his own
story, either living or dead, in any language that we could understand,
I cannot inform you how he came to be sailing out to sea on a cake
of ice. But there he was, and greatly alarmed was the sailor when he
caught sight of him. He had the presence of mind, however, not to make
any sudden motion, and hoped by keeping very still, to persuade the
bear that he was only an inanimate object. But the creature knew better
than that. It is probable he had been observing the sailor for some
time, and the reason the man did not notice the beast was because it
was so nearly the color of the ice hummocks. It soon crossed over to
his ice-floe, and it was then that the men in the tent first saw what
had happened to their companion.
[Illustration: THE ICEBERGS CLOSED AROUND THE SHIP.]
You may be sure the sailor was deeply grateful to the Esquimaux boy. He
had nothing to give his preserver, but he wanted to take him home with
him to New England, and take care of him ever after. But nothing would
induce Polargno to leave his beloved Greenland. The captain, and such
of the crew as had anything to give, loaded Polargno and his parents
with gifts. The parents took them all, but I think they were very much
surprised at this munificence, and at the praise that the white men
showered upon the boy for his brave deed. They were very much pleased
that he should have behaved so well when called upon to do his duty;
but it did not occur to them, apparently, that he could possibly have
done otherwise than he did, though they admitted that it was a bold
deed to go out single-handed to fight a polar bear. The Esquimaux are
a very brave people. Courage is such a common quality among them that
it excites no surprise. But, of all their foes, the one they dread most
is the polar bear. But then here was a man in danger of being killed by
a bear, and the boy went to his assistance as a matter of course. That
was the way they looked at it.
They all had plenty of time to talk this over, for the ship did not
get away for a week after the hunting party returned. The ice closed
around it again; and again the sailors made up their minds to winter
there. The Esquimaux had told them of two ships that had remained
there too late the years before, and had become enclosed in icebergs.
Great masses of these icy mountains, descended upon the doomed ships.
The crews worked hard to get the ships free, even dragging them out
from among the icebergs on one occasion with ropes. But it was all in
vain. The vessels were destroyed, and the crews lost all they had. The
Esquimaux took them in their sledges to a lower settlement, where they
found a whaling ship that conveyed them home. The ships were probably
all gone now, and if this vessel was in like manner destroyed, these
sailors would be compelled to stay all the season with the Esquimaux.
But, one day, the ice broke up with a great noise, and disappeared as
suddenly as it came, and the vessel sailed out of the bay in a clear
channel, the sailors having promised to return next year if they could.
And, in a short time, snow and ice, and winter, and darkness enveloped
the place.
But the Esquimaux did not care. They were used to it. They did what
work they could. They had abundant stores for the winter. And they sat
around their lamps, and told stories of the wonderful adventures they
had passed through, or heard of.
Polargno, we are agreed, is not handsome to our American eyes; and he
does not know how to read and write; and never even heard of geography
and arithmetic. And yet, I wonder how many well-taught American boys
would so bravely and unselfishly risk their lives to save the life of
another.
[Illustration: Decoration]
TURTLES AND THEIR EGGS.
[Illustration: MATAMATA TURTLE.]
How would you like this pretty creature for a pet? He can be
domesticated, and will stay with you very contentedly, if you put him
in a place where he can’t get away. If you leave an open gateway,
however, the chances are he will walk out of it some day, and return no
more. He does not go away because he is tired of being petted, for he
likes that; or because he does not like you, for perhaps, in his heart,
(if he has one) he is sorry to part from you. He goes simply because he
can. This restless disposition moves him to extend his travels; and, no
doubt, he intends to return at some future day. But he never does.
If you have him in any place where he can do mischief you had better
keep an eye on him; otherwise he will be poking his long nose into
things that do not concern him in the least.
His two ends are not well balanced, his neck being so very long, and
his tail so very short! The fringe-like appendage hanging from his neck
gives it somewhat the appearance of a great centipede.
His small eyes have not a very intelligent expression, but our matamata
has quite sense enough to take very good care of himself.
His shell is really very pretty. It looks as if it were hung loosely
upon him for a canopy, and as if he might be just as well off without
it, especially as it must be somewhat heavy to carry around on all
occasions. But, if you consulted him upon the matter of removing it, he
would, at once, object. Probably he would draw his long neck instantly
within his shell, leaving not so much as the tip of his sharp nose
visible; then he would whisk in his ridiculous tail; and, lastly, in
would go his fat legs and feet; and there he would have as tight and
snug a house as possible.
Did you ever eat any turtles’ eggs? If not, I advise you to do so on
the first opportunity, for they are very good.
The turtles lay their eggs in the sand that the heat of the sun and
sand combined may hatch them at the proper time. As soon as they are
hatched the young turtles make their way to the water, where they know
how to provide their own living, without instruction. But, in the warm
countries, where turtles abound, it is a wonder that any young ones
manage to get out of their eggs.
For the eggs are esteemed such a luxury, that, as soon as the laying
season of the turtles is over, the natives turn out in great numbers,
and search the sands for eggs, which they collect by the thousands, for
sale, and for their own eating.
[Illustration: SEARCHING THE SAND FOR TURTLES’ EGGS.]
It is at this laying season that the South American Indians capture
great numbers of turtles. The turtles come out of the water at night,
in crowds, for the purpose of depositing their eggs. They dig trenches
in the sand; and, having placed their eggs in these, and covered them,
they all make a grand rush back to the water. Then the Indians, who are
on the watch, run after them, seize as many as they can get hold of
by the tails, and throw them over on their backs. In this position a
turtle is helpless, and the Indians can easily kill them.
The flesh is excellent food; but what the Indians chiefly desire
to possess is the fine yellow fat with which the turtles are well
supplied. From this fat the Indians manufacture a superior kind of oil,
for which they find a ready sale.
If these turtles were as large as some of the West Indian turtles that
have been brought to this country, the Indians would not have an easy
task in turning them over.
A FEW VOLCANOES.
A mountain with its great cone smoking like a chimney, or sending up
into the clouds a grand sheaf of flame, must be a splendid sight, and
one never to be forgotten. But when it begins to pour forth rivers of
hot lava it is time to get entirely out of sight of it, if you can. For
these streams of lava are sometimes very long.
[Illustration: RIVER OF RED-HOT LAVA FROM MOUNT ETNA.]
A hundred years ago Etna poured forth such an immense river of fiery
stones, and liquid lava, and threw it out with such violence that it
rushed in cascades and whirling torrents for fifteen miles, burning up
everything in its course, until it finally plunged into the sea.
[Illustration: ERUPTION OF COTOPAXI IN 1741.]
This volcano has an eruption once in a while, but does not often give
the world such a terrible one as this. Sometimes the lava only destroys
the fields and vineyards near the mountain. It is a small volcano, but
it has done a good deal of damage. Two hundred years ago it entirely
destroyed the town of Catania.
At a short distance from it stands another small volcano, which is
famous for the ruin it has caused. You have no doubt read of the
destruction of the city of Pompeii; and how it was entirely buried
under the ashes thrown from Vesuvius during an eruption. Nearly
everybody in the place at that time perished, and now people have to
dig many feet under the ground to find the houses of the buried city. A
smaller city in the neighborhood, Herculaneum, was buried at the same
time, by the shower of ashes.
This happened eighteen hundred years ago. But Vesuvius has not been
quiet ever since that time. There have been several eruptions. In 1794
it hurled out torrents of fire from its top which rolled over a town, a
few miles distant, and burned it into ruins. Strange to say, the town
was rebuilt; and, a few years ago, Vesuvius visited it again with a
fiery flood, which, however, only destroyed part of the town.
A very much larger volcano, Cotopaxi, has, at different times, had most
frightful eruptions, but on account of its situation, has not done so
much damage as Etna and Vesuvius.
Just before an eruption occurs dull roars are heard inside of the
mountain, which seems to shake with the action of the lava boiling up
within it. Presently columns of smoke shoot up, then sheafs of flame
rise into the air with masses of cinders, and burning rocks. And then
the lava-streams pour over the sides, and roll down into the plains.
Some volcanoes are always smoking when not in active eruption, but the
active volcanoes usually take long rests. The people who live on, or
near these burning mountains rely upon this fact for safety. But it is
not a very safe reliance, for their periods of rest are very irregular;
and they may break forth when least expected.
The greater number of these mountains throw out flames and lava, but
some send out hot mud instead, and others boiling water.
There are volcanoes that seem to have burned themselves out, and are
said to be extinct. Men can go down into the craters of these, from
whence the flames, and lava formerly issued, and examine them. Some of
these immense holes, or craters are now filled with forests, and in
others there are lakes. Others again are nothing but rocky ravines.
Orizaba, in Mexico, is an extinct volcano, with a monstrous crater.
Persons standing on the opposite sides of this crater can barely see
each other, the distance between them is so great.
[Illustration: CRATER OF ORIZABA.]
The small volcanoes are more active than the large ones. Little
Stromboli is nearly always sending up flames, while the lofty Cotopaxi
is quiet sometimes for a century.
THE ABSENT-MINDED BOTANIST.
The learned Mr. Nathaniel P. Reed, a native of New Jersey, and a man
well known to all the botanical and agricultural societies of the
civilized world, had, in the course of some thirty years spent in
patient and careful investigation into the structure and habits of
plants, acquired the power of completely abstracting his mind from all
its surroundings while engaged in his favorite pursuit. This was often
a very fortunate thing for him. But then, again, sometimes it was very
unfortunate.
He traveled everywhere, searching for specimens of plants. He never
seemed to get tired of this study. Over hot, sandy deserts, and through
savage forests he went undaunted; and, if he found a new flower, or
tree, he felt he was fully rewarded.
At last, he reached Cape Town in Southern Africa, a region he had never
before visited. A party of European hunters was just on the point of
starting on an expedition into the woods and jungles, and, in an evil
hour for them, asked Mr. Reed to join them. He at once accepted the
invitation, for it was a fine opportunity to hunt up new plants.