A SEVENTEEN DAYS' MARCH.
These first words of Altamont had completely changed the whole
aspect of affairs, but his communication was still incomplete, and,
after giving him a little time to rest, the Doctor undertook the
task of conversing again with him, putting his questions in such a
form that a movement of the head or eyes would be a sufficient
answer.
He soon ascertained that the Porpoise was a three-mast American
ship, from New York, wrecked on the ice, with provisions and
combustibles in abundance still on board, and that, though she had
been thrown on her side, she had not gone to pieces, and there was
every chance of saving her cargo.
Altamont and his crew had left her two months previously, taking the
long boat with them on a sledge. They intended to get to Smith's
Sound, and reach some whaler that would take them back to America;
but one after another succumbed to fatigue and illness, till at last
Altamont and two men were all that remained out of thirty; and truly
he had survived by a providential miracle, while his two companions
already lay beside him in the sleep of death.
Hatteras wished to know why the Porpoise had come so far north, and
learned in reply that she had been irresistibly driven there by the
ice. But his anxious fears were not satisfied with this explanation,
and he asked further what was the purpose of his voyage. Altamont
said he wanted to make the north-west passage, and this appeared to
content the jealous Englishman, for he made no more reference to the
subject. "Well," said the Doctor, "it strikes me that, instead
of trying to get to Baffin's Bay, our best plan would be to go in
search of the Porpoise, for here lies a ship a full third of the
distance nearer, and, more than that, stocked with everything
necessary for winter quarters."
"I see no other course open to us," replied Bell.
"And the sooner we go the better," added Johnson, "for the
time we allow ourselves must depend on our provisions."
"You are right, Johnson," returned the Doctor. "If we start
to-morrow, we must reach the Porpoise by the 15th of March, unless
we mean to die of starvation. What do you say, Hatteras?"
"Let us make preparations immediately, but perhaps the route may
be longer than we suppose."
"How can that be, captain? The man seems quite sure of the
position of his ship," said the Doctor.
"But suppose the ice-field should have drifted like ours?"
Here Altamont, who was listening attentively, made a sign that he
wished to speak, and, after much difficulty, he succeeded in telling
the Doctor that the Porpoise had struck on rocks near the coast, and
that it was impossible for her to move.
This was re-assuring information, though it cut off all hope of
returning to Europe, unless Bell could construct a smaller ship out
of the wreck.
[Illustration]
No time was lost in getting ready to start. The sledge was the
principal thing, as it needed thorough repair. There was plenty of
wood, and, profiting by the experience they had recently had of this
mode of transit, several improvements were made by Bell.
Inside, a sort of couch was laid for the American, and covered over
with the tent. The small stock of provisions did not add much to the
weight, but, to make up the deficiency, as much wood was piled up on
it as it could hold.
The Doctor did the packing, and made an exact calculation of how
long their stores would last. He found that, by allowing
three-quarter rations to each man and full rations to the dogs, they
might hold out for three weeks.
Towards seven in the evening, they felt so worn out that they were
obliged to give up work for the night; but, before lying down to
sleep, they heaped up the wood in the stove, and made a roaring
fire, determined to allow themselves this parting luxury. As they
gathered round it, basking in the unaccustomed heat, and enjoying
their hot coffee and biscuits and pemmican, they became quite
cheerful, and forgot all their sufferings.
About seven in the morning they set to work again and by three in
the afternoon everything was ready.
It was almost dark, for, though the sun had reappeared above the
horizon since the 31st of January, his light was feeble and of short
duration. Happily the moon would rise about half-past six, and her
soft beams would give sufficient light to show the road.
The parting moment came. Altamont was overjoyed at the idea of
starting, though the jolting would necessarily increase his
sufferings, for the Doctor would find on board the medicines he
required for his cure.
They lifted him on to the sledge, and laid him as comfortably as
possible, and then harnessed the dogs, including Duk. One final look
towards the icy bed where the Forward had been, and the little party
set out for the Porpoise. Bell was scout, as before; the Doctor and
Johnson took each a side of the sledge, and lent a helping hand when
necessary; while Hatteras walked behind to keep all in the right
track.
They got on pretty quickly, for the weather was good, and the ice
smooth and hard, allowing the sledge to glide easily along, yet the
temperature was so low that men and dogs were soon panting, and had
often to stop and take breath. About seven the moon shone out, and
irradiated the whole horizon. Far as the eye could see, there was
nothing visible but a wide-stretching level plain of ice, without a
solitary hummock or patch to relieve the uniformity.
[Illustration]
As the Doctor remarked to his companion, it looked like some vast,
monotonous desert.
"Ay! Mr. Clawbonny, it is a desert, but we shan't die of thirst
in it at any rate."
"That's a comfort, certainly, but I'll tell you one thing: it
proves, Johnson, we must be a great distance from any coast. The
nearer the coast, the more numerous the icebergs in general, and you
see there is not one in sight."
"The horizon is rather misty, though."
"So it is, but ever since we started, we have been on this same
interminable ice-field."
"Do you know, Mr. Clawbonny, that smooth as this ice is, we are
going over most dangerous ground? Fathomless abysses lie beneath our
feet."
"That's true enough, but they won't engulph us. This white
sheet over them is pretty tough, I can tell you. It is always
getting thicker too; for in these latitudes, it snows nine days out
of ten even in April and May; ay, and in June as well. The ice here,
in some parts, cannot be less than between thirty and forty feet
thick."
"That sounds reassuring, at all events." said Johnson.
"Yes, we're not like the skaters on the Serpentine—always in
danger of falling through. This ice is strong enough to bear the
weight of the Custom House in Liverpool, or the Houses of Parliament
in Westminster."
"Can they reckon pretty nearly what ice will bear, Mr.
Clawbonny?" asked the old sailor, always eager for information.
"What can't be reckoned now-a-days? Yes, ice two inches thick
will bear a man; three and a half inches, a man on horse-back; five
inches, an eight pounder; eight inches, field artillery; and ten
inches, a whole army."
"It is difficult to conceive of such a power of resistance, but
you were speaking of the incessant snow just now, and I cannot help
wondering where it comes from, for the water all round is frozen,
and what makes the clouds?"
"That's a natural enough question, but my notion is that nearly
all the snow or rain that we get here comes from the temperate
zones. I fancy each of those snowflakes was originally a drop of
water in some river, caught up by evaporation into the air, and
wafted over here in the shape of clouds; so that it is not
impossible that when we quench our thirst with the melted snow, we
are actually drinking from the very rivers of our own native land."
Just at this moment the conversation was interrupted by Hatteras,
who called out that they were getting out of the straight line. The
increasing mist made it difficult to keep together, and at last,
about eight o'clock, they determined to come to a halt, as they
had gone fifteen miles. The tent was put up and the stove lighted,
and after their usual supper they lay down and slept comfortably
till morning.
The calm atmosphere was highly favourable, for though the cold
became intense, and the mercury was always frozen in the
thermometer, they found no difficulty in continuing their route,
confirming the truth of Parry's assertion that any man suitably
clad may walk abroad with impunity in the lowest temperature,
provided there is no wind; while, on the other hand, the least
breeze would make the skin smart acutely, and bring on violent
headache, which would soon end in death.
On the 5th of March a peculiar phenomenon occurred. The sky was
perfectly clear and glittering with stars, when suddenly snow began
to fall thick and fast, though there was not a cloud in the heavens
and through the white flakes the constellations could be seen
shining. This curious display lasted two hours, and ceased before
the Doctor could arrive at any satisfactory conclusion as to its
cause.
The moon had ended her last quarter, and complete darkness prevailed
now for seventeen hours out of the twenty-four. The travellers had
to fasten themselves together with a long rope to avoid getting
separated, and it was all but impossible to pursue the right course.
Moreover, the brave fellows, in spite of their iron will, began to
show signs of fatigue. Halts became more frequent, and yet every
hour was precious, for the provisions were rapidly coming to an end.
Hatteras hardly knew what to think as day after day went on without
apparent result, and he asked himself sometimes whether the Porpoise
had any actual existence except in Altamont's fevered brain, and
more than once the idea even came into his head that perhaps
national hatred might have induced the American to drag them along
with himself to certain death.
He told the Doctor his suppositions, who rejected them absolutely,
and laid them down to the score of the unhappy rivalry that had
arisen already between the two captains.
[Illustration]
On the 14th of March, after sixteen days' march the little party
found themselves only yet in the 82° latitude. Their strength was
exhausted, and they had a hundred miles more to go. To increase
their sufferings, rations had to be still further reduced. Each man
must be content with a fourth part to allow the dogs their full
quantity.
Unfortunately they could not rely at all on their guns, for only
seven charges of powder were left, and six balls. They had fired at
several hares and foxes on the road already, but unsuccessfully.
However, on the 15th, the Doctor was fortunate enough to surprise a
seal basking on the ice, and, after several shots, the animal was
captured and killed.
Johnson soon had it skinned and cut in pieces, but it was so lean
that it was worthless as food, unless its captors would drink the
oil like the Esquimaux.
The Doctor was bold enough to make the attempt, but failed in spite
of himself.
Next day several icebergs and hummocks were noticed on the horizon.
Was this a sign that land was near, or was it some ice-field that
had broken up? It was difficult to know what to surmise.
On arriving at the first of these hummocks, the travellers set to
work to make a cave in it where they could rest more comfortably
than in the tent, and after three hours' persevering toil, were
able to light their stove and lie down beside it to stretch their
weary limbs.