Steve Young; or, The Voyage of the "Hvalross" to the Icy Seas, by George
Manville Fenn.
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Steve Young is an orphan whose uncle, Captain Young, has disappeared on
a voyage to the Spitzbergen area, well to the north of Britain. Some of
the Captain's friends charter a Norwegian vessel to go in search of him,
and, much to the disgust of the ship's doctor, who thinks boys are
nothing but a nuisance, Steve goes with them.
Steve is a sixteen year old, unconscious of his own good looks, but
needing a few hard lessons in life, which the trip provides in plenty.
Encounters with Polar Bears, the intense cold of the arctic winter,
gales and storms, strong currents, ice floes, the total darkness of the
winter, and the occasional bad humour of various of the men of the
rescue party.
George Manville Fenn is a master of suspense, and in this book he
reveals his usual talents. All of the characters are very well drawn,
and we are even amused by the cowardly and idle antics of a young
Scottish Highlander, who is not at all typical of the noble and brave
Highlander.
Eventually they find Captain Young and most of his crew, and off home
they go.
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STEVE YOUNG; OR, THE VOYAGE OF THE "HVALROSS" TO THE ICY SEAS, BY GEORGE
MANVILLE FENN.