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diff --git a/10339-0.txt b/10339-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..650bfc6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10339-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10366 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10339 *** + +[Redactor's Note: _An Antarctic Mystery_ (Number V046 in the T&M +numerical listing of Verne's works) is a translation of _Le Sphinx +de Glaces_ (1897) translated by Mrs. Cashel Hoey who also translated +other Verne works.] + + + + + +AN ANTARCTIC MYSTERY + + +BY + + +JULES VERNE + + +TRANSLATED BY MRS. CASHEL HOEY + + + + +ILLUSTRATED + +1899 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +The _Tasman_ to the rescue + +The approach of the _Halbrane_ + +Going aboard the _Halbrane_ + +Cook's route was effectually barred by ice-floes + +Taking in sail under difficulties + +"There, look there! That's a fin-back!" + +Hunt to the rescue + +Four sailors at the oars, and one at the helm + +Hunt extended his enormous hand, holding a metal collar + +Dirk Peters shows the way + +The half-breed in the crow's-nest + +The _Halbrane_ fast in the iceberg + +The _Halbrane_, staved in, broken up + +"I was afraid; I got away from him" + +William Guy + +An Antarctic Mystery + +The _Paracuta_ + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + +Chapter I. The Kerguelen Islands. + +Chapter II. The Schooner _Halbrane_ + +Chapter III. Captain Len Guy + +Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island + +Chapter V. Edgar Poe's Romance + +Chapter VI. An Ocean Waif + +Chapter VII. Tristan D'Acunha + +Chapter VIII. Bound for the Falklands + +Chapter IX. Fitting out the _Halbrane_ + +Chapter X. The Outset of the Enterprise + +Chapter XI. From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle + +Chapter XII. Between the Polar Circle and the Ice Wall + +Chapter XIII. Along the Front of the Icebergs + +Chapter XIV. A Voice in a Dream + +Chapter XV. Bennet Islet + +Chapter XVI. Tsalal Island + +Chapter XVII. And Pym + +Chapter XVIII. A Revelation + +Chapter XIX. Land + +Chapter XX. "Unmerciful Disaster" + +Chapter XXI. Amid the Mists + +Chapter XXII. In Camp + +Chapter XXIII. Found at Last + +Chapter XXIV. Eleven Years in a Few Pages + +Chapter XXV. "We Were the First" + +Chapter XXVI. A Little Remnant + + + + +AN ANTARCTIC MYSTERY + +(Also called THE SPHINX OF THE ICE FIELDS) + + + + +CHAPTER I. +THE KERGUELEN ISLANDS. + + +No doubt the following narrative will be received with entire +incredulity, but I think it well that the public should be put in +possession of the facts narrated in "An Antarctic Mystery." The +public is free to believe them or not, at its good pleasure. + +No more appropriate scene for the wonderful and terrible adventures +which I am about to relate could be imagined than the Desolation +Islands, so called, in 1779, by Captain Cook. I lived there for +several weeks, and I can affirm, on the evidence of my own eyes and +my own experience, that the famous English explorer and navigator +was happily inspired when he gave the islands that significant name. + +Geographical nomenclature, however, insists on the name of +Kerguelen, which is generally adopted for the group which lies in +49° 45' south latitude, and 69° 6' east longitude. This is +just, because in 1772, Baron Kerguelen, a Frenchman, was the first +to discover those islands in the southern part of the Indian Ocean. +Indeed, the commander of the squadron on that voyage believed that +he had found a new continent on the limit of the Antarctic seas, but +in the course of a second expedition he recognized his error. There +was only an archipelago. I may be believed when I assert that +Desolation Islands is the only suitable name for this group of three +hundred isles or islets in the midst of the vast expanse of ocean, +which is constantly disturbed by austral storms. + +Nevertheless, the group is inhabited, and the number of Europeans +and Americans who formed the nucleus of the Kerguelen population at +the date of the 2nd of August, 1839, had been augmented for two +months past by a unit in my person. Just then I was waiting for an +opportunity of leaving the place, having completed the geological +and mineralogical studies which had brought me to the group in +general and to Christmas Harbour in particular. + +Christmas Harbour belongs to the most important islet of the +archipelago, one that is about half as large as Corsica. It is safe, +and easy, and free of access. Your ship may ride securely at single +anchor in its waters, while the bay remains free from ice. + +The Kerguelens possess hundreds of other fjords. Their coasts are +notched and ragged, especially in the parts between the north and +the south-east, where little islets abound. The soil, of volcanic +origin, is composed of quartz, mixed with a bluish stone. In summer +it is covered with green mosses, grey lichens, various hardy plants, +especially wild saxifrage. Only one edible plant grows there, a kind +of cabbage, not found anywhere else, and very bitter of flavour. +Great flocks of royal and other penguins people these islets, +finding good lodging on their rocky and mossy surface. These stupid +birds, in their yellow and white feathers, with their heads thrown +back and their wings like the sleeves of a monastic habit, look, at +a distance, like monks in single file walking in procession along +the beach. + +The islands afford refuge to numbers of sea-calves, seals, and +sea-elephants. The taking of those amphibious animals either on land +or from the sea is profitable, and may lead to a trade which will +bring a large number of vessels into these waters. + +On the day already mentioned, I was accosted while strolling on the +port by mine host of mine inn. + +"Unless I am much mistaken, time is beginning to seem very long to +you, Mr. Jeorling?" + +The speaker was a big tall American who kept the only inn on the +port. + +"If you will not be offended, Mr. Atkins, I will acknowledge that +I do find it long." + +"Of course I won't be offended. Am I not as well used to answers +of that kind as the rocks of the Cape to the rollers?" + +"And you resist them equally well." + +"Of course. From the day of your arrival at Christmas Harbour, +when you came to the Green Cormorant, I said to myself that in a +fortnight, if not in a week, you would have enough of it, and would +be sorry you had landed in the Kerguelens." + +"No, indeed, Mr. Atkins; I never regret anything I have done." + +"That's a good habit, sir." + +"Besides, I have gained knowledge by observing curious things +here. I have crossed the rolling plains, covered with hard stringy +mosses, and I shall take away curious mineralogical and geological +specimens with me. I have gone sealing, and taken sea-calves with +your people. I have visited the rookeries where the penguin and the +albatross live together in good fellowship, and that was well worth +my while. You have given me now and again a dish of petrel, seasoned +by your own hand, and very acceptable when one has a fine healthy +appetite. I have found a friendly welcome at the Green Cormorant, +and I am very much obliged to you. But, if I am right in my +reckoning, it is two months since the Chilian two-master _Peñas_ set +me down at Christmas Harbour in mid-winter. + +"And you want to get back to your own country, which is mine, Mr. +Jeorling; to return to Connecticut, to Providence, our capital." + +"Doubtless, Mr. Atkins, for I have been a globe-trotter for close +upon three years. One must come to a stop and take root at some +time." + +"Yes, and when one has taken root, one puts out branches." + +"Just so, Mr. Atkins. However, as I have no relations living, it +is likely that I shall be the last of my line. I am not likely to +take a fancy for marrying at forty." + +"Well, well, that is a matter of taste. Fifteen years ago I +settled down comfortably at Christmas Harbour with my Betsy; she has +presented me with ten children, who in their turn will present me +with grandchildren." + +"You will not return to the old country?" + +"What should I do there, Mr. Jeorling, and what could I ever have +done there? There was nothing before me but poverty. Here, on the +contrary, in these Islands of Desolation, where I have no reason to +feel desolate, ease and competence have come to me and mine!" + +"No doubt, and I congratulate you, Mr. Atkins, for you are a happy +man. Nevertheless it is not impossible that the fancy may take you +some day--" + +Mr. Atkins answered by a vigorous and convincing shake of the head. +It was very pleasant to hear this worthy American talk. He was +completely acclimatized on his archipelago, and to the conditions of +life there. He lived with his family as the penguins lived in their +rookeries. His wife was a "valiant" woman of the Scriptural +type, his sons were strong, hardy fellows, who did not know what +sickness meant. His business was prosperous. The Green Cormorant had +the custom of all the ships, whalers and others, that put in at +Kerguelen. Atkins supplied them with everything they required, and +no second inn existed at Christmas Harbour. His sons were +carpenters, sailmakers, and fishers, and they hunted the amphibians +in all the creeks during the hot season. In short, this was a family +of honest folk who fulfilled their destiny without much difficulty. + +"Once more, Mr. Atkins, let me assure you," I resumed, "I am +delighted to have come to Kerguelen. I shall always remember the +islands kindly. Nevertheless, I should not be sorry to find myself +at sea again." + +"Come, Mr. Jeorling, you must have a little patience," said the +philosopher, "you must not forget that the fine days will soon be +here. In five or six weeks--" + +"Yes, and in the meantime, the hills and the plains, the rocks and +the shores will be covered thick with snow, and the sun will not +have strength to dispel the mists on the horizon." + +"Now, there you are again, Mr. Jeorling! Why, the wild grass is +already peeping through the white sheet! Just look!" + +"Yes, with a magnifying glass! Between ourselves, Atkins, could +you venture to pretend that your bays are not still ice-locked in +this month of August, which is the February of our northern +hemisphere?" + +"I acknowledge that, Mr. Jeorling. But again I say have patience! +The winter has been mild this year. The ships will soon show up, in +the east or in the west, for the fishing season is near." + +"May Heaven hear you, Atkins, and guide the _Halbrane_ safely into +port." + +"Captain Len Guy? Ah, he's a good sailor, although he's +English--there are good people everywhere--and he takes in his +supplies at the Green Cormorant." + +"You think the _Halbrane_--" + +"Will be signalled before a week, Mr. Jeorling, or, if not, it +will be because there is no longer a Captain Len Guy; and if there +is no longer a Captain Len Guy, it is because the _Halbrane_ has sunk +in full sail between the Kerguelens and the Cape of Good Hope." + +Thereupon Mr. Atkins walked away, with a scornful gesture, +indicating that such an eventuality was out of all probability. + +My intention was to take my passage on board the _Halbrane_ so soon as +she should come to her moorings in Christmas Harbour. After a rest +of six or seven days, she would set sail again for Tristan +d'Acunha, where she was to discharge her cargo of tin and copper. +I meant to stay in the island for a few weeks of the fine season, +and from thence set out for Connecticut. Nevertheless, I did not +fail to take into due account the share that belongs to chance in +human affairs, for it is wise, as Edgar Poe has said, always "to +reckon with the unforeseen, the unexpected, the inconceivable, which +have a very large share (in those affairs), and chance ought always +to be a matter of strict calculation." + +Each day I walked about the port and its neighbourhood. The sun was +growing strong. The rocks were emerging by degrees from their winter +clothing of snow; moss of a wine-like colour was springing up on the +basalt cliffs, strips of seaweed fifty yards long were floating on +the sea, and on the plain the lyella, which is of Andean origin, was +pushing up its little points, and the only leguminous plant of the +region, that gigantic cabbage already mentioned, valuable for its +anti-scorbutic properties, was making its appearance. + +I had not come across a single land mammal--sea mammals swarm in +these waters--not even of the batrachian or reptilian kinds. A few +insects only--butterflies or others--and even these did not fly, +for before they could use their wings, the atmospheric currents +carried the tiny bodies away to the surface of the rolling waves. + +"And the _Halbrane_?" I used to say to Atkins each morning. + +"The _Halbrane_, Mr. Jeorling," he would reply with complacent +assurance, "will surely come into port to-day, or, if not to-day, +to-morrow." + +In my rambles on the shore, I frequently routed a crowd of +amphibians, sending them plunging into the newly-released waters. +The penguins, heavy and impassive creatures, did not disappear at my +approach; they took no notice; but the black petrels, the puffins, +black and white, the grebes and others, spread their wings at sight +of me. + +One day I witnessed the departure of an albatross, saluted by the +very best croaks of the penguins, no doubt as a friend whom they +were to see no more. Those powerful birds can fly for two hundred +leagues without resting for a moment, and with such rapidity that +they sweep through vast spaces in a few hours. The departing +albatross sat motionless upon a high rock, at the end of the bay of +Christmas Harbour, looking at the waves as they dashed violently +against the beach. + +Suddenly, the bird rose with a great sweep into the air, its claws +folded beneath it, its head stretched out like the prow of a ship, +uttering its shrill cry: a few moments later it was reduced to a +black speck in the vast height and disappeared behind the misty +curtain of the south. + + + + +CHAPTER II. +THE SCHOONER _HALBRANE_. + + +The _Halbrane_ was a schooner of three hundred tons, and a fast +sailer. On board there was a captain, a mate, or lieutenant, a +boatswain, a cook, and eight sailors; in all twelve men, a +sufficient number to work the ship. Solidly built, copper-bottomed, +very manageable, well suited for navigation between the fortieth and +sixtieth parallels of south latitude, the _Halbrane_ was a credit to +the ship-yards of Birkenhead. + +All this I learned from Atkins, who adorned his narrative with +praise and admiration of its theme. Captain Len Guy, of Liverpool, +was three-fifths owner of the vessel, which he had commanded for +nearly six years. He traded in the southern seas of Africa and +America, going from one group of islands to another and from +continent to continent. His ship's company was but a dozen men, it +is true, but she was used for the purposes of trade only; he would +have required a more numerous crew, and all the implements, for +taking seals and other amphibia. The _Halbrane_ was not defenceless, +however; on the contrary, she was heavily armed, and this was well, +for those southern seas were not too safe; they were frequented at +that period by pirates, and on approaching the isles the _Halbrane_ +was put into a condition to resist attack. Besides, the men always +slept with one eye open. + +One morning--it was the 27th of August--I was roused out of my bed +by the rough voice of the innkeeper and the tremendous thumps he +gave my door. + +"Mr. Jeorling, are you awake?" + +"Of course I am, Atkins. How should I be otherwise, with all that +noise going on? What's up?" + +"A ship six miles out in the offing, to the nor'east, steering +for Christmas!" + +"Will it be the _Halbrane_?" + +"We shall know that in a short time, Mr. Jeorling. At any rate it +is the first boat of the year, and we must give it a welcome." + +I dressed hurriedly and joined Atkins on the quay, where I found him +in the midst of a group engaged in eager discussion. Atkins was +indisputably the most considerable and considered man in the +archipelago--consequently he secured the best listeners. The matter +in dispute was whether the schooner in sight was or was not the +_Halbrane_. The majority maintained that she was not, but Atkins was +positive she was, although on this occasion he had only two backers. + +The dispute was carried on with warmth, the host of the Green +Cormorant defending his view, and the dissentients maintaining that +the fast-approaching schooner was either English or American, until +she was near enough to hoist her flag and the Union Jack went +fluttering up into the sky. Shortly after the _Halbrane_ lay at anchor +in the middle of Christmas Harbour. + +[Illustration: The approach of the _Halbrane_.] + +The captain of the _Halbrane_, who received the demonstrative greeting +of Atkins very coolly, it seemed to me, was about forty-five, +red-faced, and solidly built, like his schooner; his head was large, +his hair was already turning grey, his black eyes shone like coals +of fire under his thick eyebrows, and his strong white teeth were +set like rocks in his powerful jaws; his chin was lengthened by a +coarse red beard, and his arms and legs were strong and firm. Such +was Captain Len Guy, and he impressed me with the notion that he was +rather impassive than hard, a shut-up sort of person, whose secrets +it would not be easy to get at. I was told the very same day that my +impression was correct, by a person who was better informed than +Atkins, although the latter pretended to great intimacy with the +captain. The truth was that nobody had penetrated that reserved +nature. + +I may as well say at once that the person to whom I have alluded was +the boatswain of the _Halbrane_, a man named Hurliguerly, who came +from the Isle of Wight. This person was about forty-four, short, +stout, strong, and bow-legged; his arms stuck out from his body, his +head was set like a ball on a bull neck, his chest was broad enough +to hold two pairs of lungs (and he seemed to want a double supply, +for he was always puffing, blowing, and talking), he had droll +roguish eyes, with a network of wrinkles under them. A noteworthy +detail was an ear-ring, one only, which hung from the lobe of his +left ear. What a contrast to the captain of the schooner, and how +did two such dissimilar beings contrive to get on together? They had +contrived it, somehow, for they had been at sea in each other's +company for fifteen years, first in the brig _Power_, which had been +replaced by the schooner _Halbrane_, six years before the beginning of +this story. + +Atkins had told Hurliguerly on his arrival that I would take passage +on the _Halbrane_, if Captain Len Guy consented to my doing so, and +the boatswain presented himself on the following morning without any +notice or introduction. He already knew my name, and he accosted me +as follows: + +"Mr. Jeorling, I salute you." + +"I salute you in my turn, my friend. What do you want?" + +"To offer you my services." + +"On what account?" + +"On account of your intention to embark on the _Halbrane_." + +"Who are you?" + +"I am Hurliguerly, the boatswain of the _Halbrane_, and besides, I +am the faithful companion of Captain Len Guy, who will listen to me +willingly, although he has the reputation of not listening to +anybody." + +"Well, my friend, let us talk, if you are not required on board +just now." + +"I have two hours before me, Mr. Jeorling. Besides, there's very +little to be done to-day. If you are free, as I am--" + +He waved his hand towards the port. + +"Cannot we talk very well here?" I observed. + +"Talk, Mr. Jeorling, talk standing up, and our throats dry, when +it is so easy to sit down in a corner of the Green Cormorant in +front of two glasses of whisky." + +"I don't drink." + +"Well, then, I'll drink for both of us. Oh! don't imagine you +are dealing with a sot! No! never more than is good for me, but +always as much!" + +I followed the man to the tavern, and while Atkins was busy on the +deck of the ship, discussing the prices of his purchases and sales, +we took our places in the eating-room of his inn. And first I said +to Hurliguerly: "It was on Atkins that I reckoned to introduce me +to Captain Len Guy, for he knows him very intimately, if I am not +mistaken." + +"Pooh! Atkins is a good sort, and the captain has an esteem for +him. But he can't do what I can. Let me act for you, Mr. +Jeorling." + +"Is it so difficult a matter to arrange, boatswain, and is there +not a cabin on board the _Halbrane_? The smallest would do for me, and +I will pay--" + +"All right, Mr. Jeorling! There is a cabin, which has never been +used, and since you don't mind putting your hand in your pocket if +required--however--between ourselves--it will take somebody +sharper than you think, and who isn't good old Atkins, to induce +Captain Len Guy to take a passenger. Yes, indeed, it will take all +the smartness of the good fellow who now drinks to your health, +regretting that you don't return the compliment!" + +What a wink it was that accompanied this sentiment! And then the man +took a short black pipe out of the pocket of his jacket, and smoked +like a steamer in full blast. + +"Mr. Hurliguerly?" said I. + +"Mr. Jeorling." + +"Why does your captain object to taking me on his ship?" + +"Because he does not intend to take anybody on board his ship. He +never has taken a passenger." + +"But, for what reason, I ask you." + +"Oh! because he wants to go where he likes, to turn about if he +pleases and go the other way without accounting for his motives to +anybody. He never leaves these southern seas, Mr. Jeorling; we have +been going these many years between Australia on the east and +America on the west; from Hobart Town to the Kerguelens, to Tristan +d'Acunha, to the Falklands, only taking time anywhere to sell our +cargo, and sometimes dipping down into the Antarctic Sea. Under +these circumstances, you understand, a passenger might be +troublesome, and besides, who would care to embark on the _Halbrane_? +she does not like to flout the breezes, and goes wherever the wind +drives her." + +"The _Halbrane_ positively leaves the Kerguelens in four days?" + +"Certainly." + +"And this time she will sail westward for Tristan d'Acunha?" + +"Probably." + +"Well, then, that probability will be enough for me, and since you +offer me your services, get Captain Len Guy to accept me as a +passenger." + +"It's as good as done." + +"All right, Hurliguerly, and you shall have no reason to repent of +it." + +"Eh! Mr. Jeorling," replied this singular mariner, shaking his +head as though he had just come out of the sea, "I have never +repented of anything, and I know well that I shall not repent of +doing you a service. Now, if you will allow me, I shall take leave +of you, without waiting for Atkins to return, and get on board." + +With this, Hurliguerly swallowed his last glass of whisky at a +gulp--I thought the glass would have gone down with the +liquor--bestowed a patronizing smile on me, and departed. + +An hour later, I met the innkeeper on the port, and told him what +had occurred. + +"Ah! that Hurliguerly!" said he, "always the old story. If you +were to believe him, Captain Len Guy wouldn't blow his nose +without consulting him. He's a queer fellow, Mr. Jeorling, not +bad, not stupid, but a great hand at getting hold of dollars or +guineas! If you fall into his hands, mind your purse, button up your +pocket, and don't let yourself be done." + +"Thanks for your advice, Atkins. Tell me, you have been talking +with Captain Len Guy; have you spoken about me?" + +"Not yet, Mr. Jeorling. There's plenty of time. The _Halbrane_ has +only just arrived, and--" + +"Yes, yes, I know. But you understand that I want to be certain as +soon as possible." + +"There's nothing to fear. The matter will be all right. Besides, +you would not be at a loss in any case. When the fishing season +comes, there will be more ships in Christmas Harbour than there are +houses around the Green Cormorant. Rely on me. I undertake your +getting a passage." + +Now, these were fair words, but, just as in the case of Hurliguerly, +there was nothing in them. So, notwithstanding the fine promises of +the two, I resolved to address myself personally to Len Guy, hard to +get at though he might be, so soon as I should meet him alone. + +The next day, in the afternoon, I saw him on the quay, and +approached him. It was plain that he would have preferred to avoid +me. It was impossible that Captain Len Guy, who knew every dweller +in the place, should not have known that I was a stranger, even +supposing that neither of my would-be patrons had mentioned me to +him. + +His attitude could only signify one of two things--either my +proposal had been communicated to him, and he did not intend to +accede to it; or neither Hurliguerly nor Atkins had spoken to him +since the previous day. In the latter case, if he held aloof from +me, it was because of his morose nature; it was because he did not +choose to enter into conversation with a stranger. + +At the moment when I was about to accost him, the _Halbrane's_ +lieutenant rejoined his captain, and the latter availed himself of +the opportunity to avoid me. He made a sign to the officer to follow +him, and the two walked away at a rapid pace. + +"This is serious," said I to myself. "It looks as though I +shall find it difficult to gain my point. But, after all it only +means delay. To-morrow morning I will go on board the _Halbrane_. +Whether he likes it or whether he doesn't, this Len Guy will have +to hear what I've got to say, and to give me an answer, yes or +no!" + +Besides, the captain of the _Halbrane_ might come at dinner-time to +the Green Cormorant, where the ship's people usually took their +meals when ashore. So I waited, and did not go to dinner until late. +I was disappointed, however, for neither the captain nor anyone +belonging to the ship patronized the Green Cormorant that day. I had +to dine alone, exactly as I had been doing every day for two months. + +After dinner, about half-past seven, when it was dark, I went out to +walk on the port, keeping on the side of the houses. The quay was +quite deserted; not a man of the _Halbrane's_ crew was ashore. The +ship's boats were alongside, rocking gently on the rising tide. I +remained there until nine, walking up and down the edge in full view +of the _Halbrane_. Gradually the mass of the ship became indistinct, +there was no movement and no light. I returned to the inn, where I +found Atkins smoking his pipe near the door. + +"Atkins," said I, "it seems that Captain Len Guy does not care +to come to your inn very often?" + +"He sometimes comes on Sunday, and this is Saturday, Mr. +Jeorling." + +"You have not spoken to him?" + +"Yes, I have." + +Atkins was visibly embarrassed. + +"You have informed him that a person of your acquaintance wished +to take passage on the _Halbrane_?" + +"Yes." + +"What was his answer?" + +"Not what either you or I would have wished, Mr. Jeorling." + +"He refuses?" + +"Well, yes, I suppose it was refusing; what he said was: ‘My +ship is not intended to carry passengers. I never have taken any, +and I never intend to do so.'" + + + + +CHAPTER III. +CAPTAIN LEN GUY. + + +I slept ill. Again and again I "dreamed that I was dreaming." +Now--this is an observation made by Edgar Poe--when one suspects +that one is dreaming, the waking comes almost instantly. I woke +then, and every time in a very bad humour with Captain Len Guy. The +idea of leaving the Kerguelens on the _Halbrane_ had full possession +of me, and I grew more and more angry with her disobliging captain. +In fact, I passed the night in a fever of indignation, and only +recovered my temper with daylight. Nevertheless I was determined to +have an explanation with Captain Len Guy about his detestable +conduct. Perhaps I should fail to get anything out of that human +hedgehog, but at least I should have given him a piece of my mind. + +I went out at eight o'clock in the morning. The weather was +abominable. Rain, mixed with snow, a storm coming over the mountains +at the back of the bay from the west, clouds scurrying down from the +lower zones, an avalanche of wind and water. It was not likely that +Captain Len Guy had come ashore merely to enjoy such a wetting and +blowing. + +No one on the quay; of course not. As for my getting on board the +_Halbrane_, that could not be done without hailing one of her boats, +and the boatswain would not venture to send it for me. + +"Besides," I reflected, "on his quarter-deck the captain is at +home, and neutral ground is better for what I want to say to him, if +he persists in his unjustifiable refusal. I will watch him this +time, and if his boat touches the quay, he shall not succeed in +avoiding me." + +I returned to the Green Cormorant, and took up my post behind the +window panes, which were dimmed by the hissing rain. There I waited, +nervous, impatient, and in a state of growing irritation. Two hours +wore away thus. Then, with the instability of the winds in the +Kerguelens, the weather became calm before I did. I opened my +window, and at the same moment a sailor stepped into one of the +boats of the _Halbrane_ and laid hold of a pair of oars, while a +second man seated himself in the back, but without taking the tiller +ropes. The boat touched the landing-place and Captain Len Guy +stepped on shore. + +In a few seconds I was out of the inn, and confronted him. + +"Sir," said I in a cold hard tone. + +Captain Len Guy looked at me steadily, and I was struck by the +sadness of his eyes, which were as black as ink. Then in a very low +voice he asked: + +"You are a stranger?" + +"A stranger at the Kerguelens? Yes." + +"Of English nationality?" + +"No. American." + +He saluted me, and I returned the curt gesture. + +"Sir," I resumed, "I believe Mr. Atkins of the Green Cormorant +has spoken to you respecting a proposal of mine. That proposal, it +seems to me, deserved a favourable reception on the part of a--" + +"The proposal to take passage on my ship?" interposed Captain +Len Guy. + +"Precisely." + +"I regret, sir, I regret that I could not agree to your request." + +"Will you tell me why?" + +"Because I am not in the habit of taking passengers. That is the +first reason." + +"And the second, captain?" + +"Because the route of the _Halbrane_ is never settled beforehand. +She starts for one port and goes to another, just as I find it to my +advantage. You must know that I am not in the service of a +shipowner. My share in the schooner is considerable, and I have no +one but myself to consult in respect to her." + +"Then it entirely depends on you to give me a passage?" + +"That is so, but I can only answer you by a refusal--to my +extreme regret." + +"Perhaps you will change your mind, captain, when you know that I +care very little what the destination of your schooner may be. It is +not unreasonable to suppose that she will go somewhere--" + +"Somewhere indeed." I fancied that Captain Len Guy threw a long +look towards the southern horizon. + +"To go here or to go there is almost a matter of indifference to +me. What I desired above all was to get away from Kerguelen at the +first opportunity that should offer." + +Captain Len Guy made me no answer; he remained in silent thought, +but did not endeavour to slip away from me. + +"You are doing me the honour to listen to me?" I asked him +sharply. + +"Yes, sir." + +"I will then add that, if I am not mistaken, and if the route of +your ship has not been altered, it was your intention to leave +Christmas Harbour for Tristan d'Acunha." + +"Perhaps for Tristan d'Acunha, perhaps for the Cape, perhaps for +the Falklands, perhaps for elsewhere." + +"Well, then, Captain Guy, it is precisely elsewhere that I want to +go," I replied ironically, and trying hard to control my +irritation. + +Then a singular change took place in the demeanour of Captain Len +Guy. His voice became more sharp and harsh. In very plain words he +made me understand that it was quite useless to insist, that our +interview had already lasted too long, that time pressed, and he had +business at the port; in short that we had said all that we could +have to say to each other. + +I had put out my arm to detain him--to seize him would be a more +correct term--and the conversation, ill begun, seemed likely to end +still more ill, when this odd person turned towards me and said in a +milder tone,-- + +"Pray understand, sir, that I am very sorry to be unable to do +what you ask, and to appear disobliging to an American. But I could +not act otherwise. In the course of the voyage of the _Halbrane_ some +unforeseen incident might occur to make the presence of a passenger +inconvenient--even one so accommodating as yourself. Thus I might +expose myself to the risk of being unable to profit by the chances +which I seek." + +"I have told you, captain, and I repeat it, that although my +intention is to return to America and to Connecticut, I don't care +whether I get there in three months or in six, or by what route; +it's all the same to me, and even were your schooner to take me to +the Antarctic seas--" + +"The Antarctic seas!" exclaimed Captain Len Guy, with a question +in his tone. And his look searched my thoughts with the keenness of +a dagger. + +"Why do you speak of the Antarctic seas?" he asked, taking my +hand. + +"Well, just as I might have spoken of the ‘Hyperborean seas' +from whence an Irish poet has made Sebastian Cabot address some +lovely verses to his Lady.(1) I spoke of the South Pole as I might +have spoken of the North." + +Captain Len Guy did not answer, and I thought I saw tears glisten in +his eyes. Then, as though he would escape from some harrowing +recollection which my words had evoked, he said,-- + +"Who would venture to seek the South Pole?" + +"It would be difficult to reach, and the experiments would be of +no practical use," I replied. "Nevertheless there are men +sufficiently adventurous to embark in such an enterprise." + +"Yes--adventurous is the word!" muttered the captain. + +"And now," I resumed, "the United States is again making an +attempt with Wilkes's fleet, the _Vancouver_, the _Peacock_, the +_Flying Fish_, and others." + +"The United States, Mr. Jeorling? Do you mean to say that an +expedition has been sent by the Federal Government to the Antarctic +seas?" + +"The fact is certain, and last year, before I left America, I +learned that the vessels had sailed. That was a year ago, and it is +very possible that Wilkes has gone farther than any of the preceding +explorers." + +Captain Len Guy had relapsed into silence, and came out of his +inexplicable musing only to say abruptly,-- + +"You come from Connecticut, sir?" + +"From Connecticut." + +"And more specially?" + +"From Providence." + +"Do you know Nantucket Island?" + +"I have visited it several times." + +"You know, I think," said the captain, looking straight into my +eyes, "that Nantucket Island was the birthplace of Arthur Gordon +Pym, the hero of your famous romance-writer Edgar Poe." + +"Yes. I remember that Poe's romance starts from Nantucket." + +"Romance, you say? That was the word you used?" + +"Undoubtedly, captain." + +"Yes, and that is what everybody says! But, pardon me, I cannot +stay any longer. I regret that I cannot alter my mind with respect +to your proposal. But, at any rate, you will only have a few days to +wait. The season is about to open. Trading ships and whalers will +put in at Christmas Harbour, and you will be able to make a choice, +with the certainty of going to the port you want to reach. I am very +sorry, sir, and I salute you." + +With these words Captain Len Guy walked quickly away, and the +interview ended differently from what I had expected, that is to say +in formal, although polite, fashion. + +As there is no use in contending with the impossible, I gave up the +hope of a passage on the _Halbrane_, but continued to feel angry with +her intractable captain. And why should I not confess that my +curiosity was aroused? I felt that there was something mysterious +about this sullen mariner, and I should have liked to find out what +it was. + +That day, Atkins wanted to know whether Captain Len Guy had made +himself less disagreeable. I had to acknowledge that I had been no +more fortunate in my negotiations than my host himself, and the +avowal surprised him not a little. He could not understand the +captain's obstinate refusal. And--a fact which touched him more +nearly--the Green Cormorant had not been visited by either Len Guy +or his crew since the arrival of the _Halbrane_. The men were +evidently acting upon orders. So far as Hurliguerly was concerned, +it was easy to understand that after his imprudent advance he did +not care to keep up useless relations with me. I knew not whether he +had attempted to shake the resolution of his chief; but I was +certain of one thing; if he had made any such effort it had failed. + +During the three following days, the 10th, 11th, and 12th of August, +the work of repairing and re-victualling the schooner went on +briskly; but all this was done with regularity, and without such +noise and quarrelling as seamen at anchor usually indulge in. The +_Halbrane_ was evidently well commanded, her crew well kept in hand, +discipline strictly maintained. + +The schooner was to sail on the 15th of August, and on the eve of +that day I had no reason to think that Captain Len Guy had repented +him of his categorical refusal. Indeed, I had made up my mind to the +disappointment, and had no longer any angry feeling about it. When +Captain Len Guy and myself met on the quay, we took no notice of +each other; nevertheless, I fancied there was some hesitation in his +manner; as though he would have liked to speak to me. He did not do +so, however, and I was not disposed to seek a further explanation. + +At seven o'clock in the evening of the 14th of August, the island +being already wrapped in darkness, I was walking on the port after I +had dined, walking briskly too, for it was cold, although dry +weather. The sky was studded with stars and the air was very keen. I +could not stay out long, and was returning to mine inn, when a man +crossed my path, paused, came back, and stopped in front of me. It +was the captain of the _Halbrane_. + +"Mr. Jeorling," he began, "the _Halbrane_ sails to-morrow +morning, with the ebb tide." + +"What is the good of telling me that," I replied, "since you +refuse--" + +"Sir, I have thought over it, and if you have not changed your +mind, come on board at seven o'clock." + +"Really, captain," I replied, "I did not expect this relenting +on your part." + +"I repeat that I have thought over it, and I add that the _Halbrane_ +shall proceed direct to Tristan d'Acunha. That will suit you, I +suppose?" + +"To perfection, captain. To-morrow morning, at seven o'clock, I +shall be on board." + +"Your cabin is prepared." + +"The cost of the voyage--" + +"We can settle that another time," answered the captain, "and +to your satisfaction. Until to-morrow, then--" + +"Until to-morrow." + +I stretched out my arm, to shake hands with him upon our bargain. +Perhaps he did not perceive my movement in the darkness, at all +events he made no response to it, but walked rapidly away and got +into his boat. + +I was greatly surprised, and so was Atkins, when I found him in the +eating-room of the Green Cormorant and told him what had occurred. +His comment upon it was characteristic. + +"This queer captain," he said, "is as full of whims as a +spoilt child! It is to be hoped he will not change his mind again at +the last moment." + +The next morning at daybreak I bade adieu to the Green Cormorant, +and went down to the port, with my kind-hearted host, who insisted +on accompanying me to the ship, partly in order to make his mind +easy respecting the sincerity of the captain's repentance, and +partly that he might take leave of him, and also of Hurliguerly. A +boat was waiting at the quay, and we reached the ship in a few +minutes. + +The first person whom I met on the deck was Hurliguerly; he gave me +a look of triumph, which said as plainly as speech: "Ha! you see +now. Our hard-to-manage captain has given in at last. And to whom do +you owe this, but to the good boatswain who did his best for you, +and did not boast overmuch of his influence?" + +Was this the truth? I had strong reasons for doubting it. After all, +what did it matter? + +[Illustration: Going aboard the _Halbrane_.] + +Captain Len Guy came on deck immediately after my arrival; this was +not surprising, except for the fact that he did not appear to remark +my presence. + +Atkins then approached the captain and said in a pleasant tone,-- + +"We shall meet next year!" + +"If it please God, Atkins." + +They shook hands. Then the boatswain took a hearty leave of the +innkeeper, and was rowed back to the quay. + +Before dark the white summits of Table Mount and Havergal, which +rise, the former to two, the other to three thousand feet above the +level of the sea, had disappeared from our view. + + +(1) Thomas D'Arcy McGee. (J.V.) + + + + +CHAPTER IV. +FROM THE KERGUELEN ISLES TO PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. + + +Never did a voyage begin more prosperously, or a passenger start in +better spirits. The interior of the _Halbrane_ corresponded with its +exterior. Nothing could exceed the perfect order, the Dutch +cleanliness of the vessel. The captain's cabin, and that of the +lieutenant, one on the port, the other on the starboard side, were +fitted up with a narrow berth, a cupboard anything but capacious, an +arm-chair, a fixed table, a lamp hung from the ceiling, various +nautical instruments, a barometer, a thermometer, a chronometer, and +a sextant in its oaken box. One of the two other cabins was prepared +to receive me. It was eight feet in length, five in breadth. I was +accustomed to the exigencies of sea life, and could do with its +narrow proportions, also with its furniture--a table, a cupboard, a +cane-bottomed arm-chair, a washing-stand on an iron pedestal, and a +berth to which a less accommodating passenger would doubtless have +objected. The passage would be a short one, however, so I took +possession of that cabin, which I was to occupy for only four, or at +the worst five weeks, with entire content. + +The eight men who composed the crew were named respectively Martin +Holt, sailing-master; Hardy, Rogers, Drap, Francis, Gratian, Burg, +and Stern--sailors all between twenty-five and thirty-five years +old--all Englishmen, well trained, and remarkably well disciplined +by a hand of iron. + +Let me set it down here at the beginning, the exceptionally able man +whom they all obeyed at a word, a gesture, was not the captain of +the _Halbrane_; that man was the second officer, James West, who was +then thirty-two years of age. + +James West was born on the sea, and had passed his childhood on +board a lighter belonging to his father, and on which the whole +family lived. All his life he had breathed the salt air of the +English Channel, the Atlantic, or the Pacific. He never went ashore +except for the needs of his service, whether of the State or of +trade. If he had to leave one ship for another he merely shifted his +canvas bag to the latter, from which he stirred no more. When he was +not sailing in reality he was sailing in imagination. After having +been ship's boy, novice, sailor, he became quartermaster, master, +and finally lieutenant of the _Halbrane_, and he had already served +for ten years as second in command under Captain Len Guy. + +James West was not even ambitious of a higher rise; he did not want +to make a fortune; he did not concern himself with the buying or +selling of cargoes; but everything connected with that admirable +instrument a sailing ship, James West understood to perfection. + +The personal appearance of the lieutenant was as follows: middle +height, slightly built, all nerves and muscles, strong limbs as +agile as those of a gymnast, the true sailor's "look," but of +very unusual far-sightedness and surprising penetration, sunburnt +face, hair thick and short, beardless cheeks and chin, regular +features, the whole expression denoting energy, courage, and +physical strength at their utmost tension. + +James West spoke but rarely--only when he was questioned. He gave +his orders in a clear voice, not repeating them, but so as to be +heard at once, and he was understood. I call attention to this +typical officer of the Merchant Marine, who was devoted body and +soul to Captain Len Guy as to the schooner _Halbrane_. He seemed to be +one of the essential organs of his ship, and if the _Halbrane_ had a +heart it was in James West's breast that it beat. + +There is but one more person to be mentioned; the ship's cook--a +negro from the African coast named Endicott, thirty years of age, +who had held that post for eight years. The boatswain and he were +great friends, and indulged in frequent talks. + +Life on board was very regular, very simple, and its monotony was +not without a certain charm. Sailing is repose in movement, a +rocking in a dream, and I did not dislike my isolation. Of course I +should have liked to find out why Captain Len Guy had changed his +mind with respect to me; but how was this to be done? To question +the lieutenant would have been loss of time. Besides, was he in +possession of the secrets of his chief? It was no part of his +business to be so, and I had observed that he did not occupy himself +with anything outside of it. Not ten words were exchanged between +him and me during the two meals which we took in common daily. I +must acknowledge, however, that I frequently caught the captain's +eyes fixed upon me, as though he longed to question me, as though he +had something to learn from me, whereas it was I, on the contrary, +who had something to learn from him. But we were both silent. + +Had I felt the need of talking to somebody very strongly, I might +have resorted to the boatswain, who was always disposed to chatter; +but what had he to say that could interest me? He never failed to +bid me good morning and good evening in most prolix fashion, but +beyond these courtesies I did not feel disposed to go. + +The good weather lasted, and on the 18th of August, in the +afternoon, the look-out discerned the mountains of the Crozet group. +The next day we passed Possession Island, which is inhabited only in +the fishing season. At this period the only dwellers there are +flocks of penguins, and the birds which whalers call "white +pigeons." + +The approach to land is always interesting at sea. It occurred to me +that Captain Len Guy might take this opportunity of speaking to his +passenger; but he did not. + +We should see land, that is to say the peaks of Marion and Prince +Edward Islands, before arriving at Tristan d'Acunha, but it was +there the _Halbrane_ was to take in a fresh supply of water. I +concluded therefore that the monotony of our voyage would continue +unbroken to the end. But, on the morning of the 20th of August, to +my extreme surprise, Captain Len Guy came on deck, approached me, +and said, speaking very low,-- + +"Sir, I have something to say to you." + +"I am ready to hear you, captain." + +"I have not spoken until to-day, for I am naturally taciturn." +Here he hesitated again, but after a pause, continued with an +effort,-- + +"Mr. Jeorling, have you tried to discover my reason for changing +my mind on the subject of your passage?" + +"I have tried, but I have not succeeded, captain. Perhaps, as I am +not a compatriot of yours, you--" + +"It is precisely because you are an American that I decided in the +end to offer you a passage on the _Halbrane_." + +"Because I am an American?" + +"Also, because you come from Connecticut." + +"I don't understand." + +"You will understand if I add that I thought it possible, since +you belong to Connecticut, since you have visited Nantucket Island, +that you might have known the family of Arthur Gordon Pym." + +"The hero of Edgar Poe's romance?" + +"The same. His narrative was founded upon the manuscript in which +the details of that extraordinary and disastrous voyage across the +Antarctic Sea was related." + +I thought I must be dreaming when I heard Captain Len Guy's words. +Edgar Poe's romance was nothing but a fiction, a work of +imagination by the most brilliant of our American writers. And here +was a sane man treating that fiction as a reality. + +I could not answer him. I was asking myself what manner of man was +this one with whom I had to deal. + +"You have heard my question?" persisted the captain. + +"Yes, yes, captain, certainly, but I am not sure that I quite +understand." + +"I will put it to you more plainly. I ask you whether in +Connecticut you personally knew the Pym family who lived in +Nantucket Island? Arthur Pam's father was one of the principal +merchants there, he was a Navy contractor. It was his son who +embarked in the adventures which he related with his own lips to +Edgar Poe--" + +"Captain! Why, that story is due to the powerful imagination of +our great poet. It is a pure invention." + +"So, then, you don't believe it, Mr. Jeorling?" said the +captain, shrugging his shoulders three times. + +"Neither I nor any other person believes it, Captain Guy, and you +are the first I have heard maintain that it was anything but a mere +romance." + +"Listen to me, then, Mr. Jeorling, for although this +‘romance'--as you call it--appeared only last year, it is none +the less a reality. Although eleven years have elapsed since the +facts occurred, they are none the less true, and we still await the +‘word' of an enigma which will perhaps never be solved." + +Yes, he was mad; but by good fortune West was there to take his +place as commander of the schooner. I had only to listen to him, and +as I had read Poe's romance over and over again, I was curious to +hear what the captain had to say about it. + +"And now," he resumed in a sharper tone and with a shake in his +voice which denoted a certain amount of nervous irritation, "it is +possible that you did not know the Pym family, that you have never +met them either at Providence or at Nantucket--" + +"Or elsewhere." + +"Just so! But don't commit yourself by asserting that the Pym +family never existed, that Arthur Gordon is only a fictitious +personage, and his voyage an imaginary one! Do you think any man, +even your Edgar Poe, could have been capable of inventing, of +creating--?" + +The increasing vehemence of Captain Len Guy warned me of the +necessity of treating his monomania with respect, and accepting all +he said without discussion. + +"Now," he proceeded, "please to keep the facts which I am +about to state clearly in your mind; there is no disputing about +facts. You may deduce any results from them you like. I hope you +will not make me regret that I consented to give you a passage on +the _Halbrane_." + +This was an effectual warning, so I made a sign of acquiescence. The +matter promised to be curious. He went on,-- + +"When Edgar Poe's narrative appeared in 1838, I was at New York. +I immediately started for Baltimore, where the writer's family +lived; the grandfather had served as quarter-master-general during +the War of Independence. You admit, I suppose, the existence of the +Poe family, although you deny that of the Pym family?" + +I said nothing, and the captain continued, with a dark glance at +me,-- + +"I inquired into certain matters relating to Edgar Poe. His abode +was pointed out to me and I called at the house. A first +disappointment! He had left America, and I could not see him. +Unfortunately, being unable to see Edgar Poe, I was unable to refer +to Arthur Gordon Pym in the case. That bold pioneer of the Antarctic +regions was dead! As the American poet had stated, at the close of +the narrative of his adventures, Gordon's death had already been +made known to the public by the daily press." + +What Captain Len Guy said was true; but, in common with all the +readers of the romance, I had taken this declaration for an artifice +of the novelist. My notion was that, as he either could not or dared +not wind up so extraordinary a work of imagination, Poe had given it +to be understood that he had not received the last three chapters +from Arthur Pym, whose life had ended under sudden and deplorable +circumstances which Poe did not make known. + +"Then," continued the captain, "Edgar Poe being absent, Arthur +Pym being dead, I had only one thing to do; to find the man who had +been the fellow-traveller of Arthur Pym, that Dirk Peters who had +followed him to the very verge of the high latitudes, and whence +they had both returned--how? This is not known. Did they come back +in company? The narrative does not say, and there are obscure points +in that part of it, as in many other places. However, Edgar Poe +stated explicitly that Dirk Peters would be able to furnish +information relating to the non-communicated chapters, and that he +lived at Illinois. I set out at once for Illinois; I arrived at +Springfield; I inquired for this man, a half-breed Indian. He lived +in the hamlet of Vandalia; I went there, and met with a second +disappointment. He was not there, or rather, Mr. Jeorling, he was _no +longer_ there. Some years before this Dirk Peters had left Illinois, +and even the United States, to go--nobody knows where. But I have +talked, at Vandalia with people who had known him, with whom he +lived, to whom he related his adventures, but did not explain the +final issue. Of that he alone holds the secret." + +What! This Dirk Peters had really existed? He still lived? I was +on the point of letting myself be carried away by the statements of +the captain of the _Halbrane_! Yes, another moment, and, in my turn, I +should have made a fool of myself. This poor mad fellow imagined +that he had gone to Illinois and seen people at Vandalia who had +known Dirk Peters, and that the latter had disappeared. No wonder, +since he had never existed, save in the brain of the novelist! + +Nevertheless I did not want to vex Len Guy, and perhaps drive him +still more mad. Accordingly I appeared entirely convinced that he +was speaking words of sober seriousness, even when he added,-- + +"You are aware that in the narrative mention is made by the +captain of the schooner on which Arthur Pym had embarked, of a +bottle containing a sealed letter, which was deposited at the foot +of one of the Kerguelen peaks?" + +"Yes, I recall the incident." + +"Well, then, in one of my latest voyages I sought for the place +where that bottle ought to be. I found it and the letter also. That +letter stated that the captain and Arthur Pym intended to make every +effort to reach the uttermost limits of the Antarctic Sea!" + +"You found that bottle?" + +"Yes!" + +"And the letter?" + +"Yes!" + +I looked at Captain Len Guy. Like certain monomaniacs he had come to +believe in his own inventions. I was on the point of saying to him, +"Show me that letter," but I thought better of it. Was he not +capable of having written the letter himself? And then I answered,-- + +"It is much to be regretted, captain, that you were unable to come +across Dirk Peters at Vandalia! He would at least have informed you +under what conditions he and Arthur Pym returned from so far. +Recollect, now, in the last chapter but one they are both there. +Their boat is in front of the thick curtain of white mist; it dashes +into the gulf of the cataract just at the moment when a veiled human +form rises. Then there is nothing more; nothing but two blank +lines--" + +"Decidedly, sir, it _is_ much to be regretted that I could not lay +my hand on Dirk Peters! It would have been interesting to learn what +was the outcome of these adventures. But, to my mind, it would have +been still more interesting to have ascertained the fate of the +others." + +"The others?" I exclaimed almost involuntarily. "Of whom do +you speak?" + +"Of the captain and crew of the English schooner which picked up +Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters after the frightful shipwreck of the +_Grampus_, and brought them across the Polar Sea to Tsalal Island--" + +"Captain," said I, just as though I entertained no doubt of the +authenticity of Edgar Poe's romance, "is it not the case that +all these men perished, some in the attack on the schooner, the +others by the infernal device of the natives of Tsalal?" + +"Who can tell?" replied the captain in a voice hoarse from +emotion. "Who can say but that some of the unfortunate creatures +survived, and contrived to escape from the natives?" + +"In any case," I replied, "it would be difficult to admit that +those who had survived could still be living." + +"And why?" + +"Because the facts we are discussing are eleven years old." + +"Sir," replied the captain, "since Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters +were able to advance beyond Tsalal Island farther than the +eighty-third parallel, since they found means of living in the midst +of those Antarctic lands, why should not their companions, if they +were not all killed by the natives, if they were so fortunate as to +reach the neighbouring islands sighted during the voyage--why +should not those unfortunate countrymen of mine have contrived to +live there? Why should they not still be there, awaiting their +deliverance?" + +"Your pity leads you astray, captain," I replied. "It would +be impossible." + +"Impossible, sir! And if a fact, on indisputable evidence, +appealed to the whole civilized world; if a material proof of the +existence of these unhappy men, imprisoned at the ends of the earth, +were furnished, who would venture to meet those who would fain go to +their aid with the cry of ‘Impossible!'" + +Was it a sentiment of humanity, exaggerated to the point of madness, +that had roused the interest of this strange man in those +shipwrecked folk who never had suffered shipwreck, for the good +reason that they never had existed? + +Captain Len Guy approached me anew, laid his hand on my shoulder and +whispered in my ear,-- + +"No, sir, no! the last word has not been said concerning the crew +of the _Jane_." + +Then he promptly withdrew. + +The _Jane_ was, in Edgar Poe's romance, the name of the ship which +had rescued Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters from the wreck of the +_Grampus_, and Captain Len Guy had now uttered it for the first time. +It occurred to me then that Guy was the name of the captain of the +_Jane_, an English ship; but what of that? The captain of the _Jane_ +never lived but in the imagination of the novelist, he and the +skipper of the _Halbrane_ have nothing in common except a name which +is frequently to be found in England. But, on thinking of the +similarity, it struck me that the poor captain's brain had been +turned by this very thing. He had conceived the notion that he was +of kin to the unfortunate captain of the _Jane_! And this had brought +him to his present state, this was the source of his passionate pity +for the fate of the imaginary shipwrecked mariners! + +It would have been interesting to discover whether James West was +aware of the state of the case, whether his chief had ever talked to +him of the follies he had revealed to me. But this was a delicate +question, since it involved the mental condition of Captain Len Guy; +and besides, any kind of conversation with the lieutenant was +difficult. On the whole I thought it safer to restrain my curiosity. +In a few days the schooner would reach Tristan d'Acunha, and I +should part with her and her captain for good and all. Never, +however, could I lose the recollection that I had actually met and +sailed with a man who took the fictions of Edgar Poe's romance for +sober fact. Never could I have looked for such an experience! + +On the 22nd of August the outline of Prince Edward's Island was +sighted, south latitude 46° 55', and 37° 46' east longitude. +We were in sight of the island for twelve hours, and then it was +lost in the evening mists. + +On the following day the _Halbrane_ headed in the direction of the +north-west, towards the most northern parallel of the southern +hemisphere which she had to attain in the course of that voyage. + + + + +CHAPTER V. +EDGAR POE'S ROMANCE. + + +In this chapter I have to give a brief summary of Edgar Poe's +romance, which was published at Richmond under the title of + +THE ADVENTURES OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM. + +We shall see whether there was any room for doubt that the +adventures of this hero of romance were imaginary. But indeed, among +the multitude of Poe's readers, was there ever one, with the sole +exception of Len Guy, who believed them to be real? The story is +told by the principal personage. Arthur Pym states in the preface +that on his return from his voyage to the Antarctic seas he met, +among the Virginian gentlemen who took an interest in geographical +discoveries, Edgar Poe, who was then editor of the _Southern Literary +Messenger_ at Richmond, and that he authorized the latter to publish +the first part of his adventures in that journal "under the cloak +of fiction." That portion having been favourably received, a +volume containing the complete narrative was issued with the +signature of Edgar Poe. + +Arthur Gordon Pym was born at Nantucket, where he attended the +Bedford School until he was sixteen years old. Having left that +school for Mr. Ronald's, he formed a friendship with one Augustus +Barnard, the son of a ship's captain. This youth, who was +eighteen, had already accompanied his father on a whaling expedition +in the southern seas, and his yarns concerning that maritime +adventure fired the imagination of Arthur Pym. Thus it was that the +association of these youths gave rise to Pym's irresistible +vocation to adventurous voyaging, and to the instinct that +especially attracted him towards the high zones of the Antarctic +region. The first exploit of Augustus Barnard and Arthur Pym was an +excursion on board a little sloop, the _Ariel_, a two-decked boat +which belonged to the Pyms. One evening the two youths, both being +very tipsy, embarked secretly, in cold October weather, and boldly +set sail in a strong breeze from the south-west. The _Ariel_, aided by +the ebb tide, had already lost sight of land when a violent storm +arose. The imprudent young fellows were still intoxicated. No one +was at the helm, not a reef was in the sail. The masts were carried +away by the furious gusts, and the wreck was driven before the wind. +Then came a great ship which passed over the _Ariel_ as the _Ariel_ +would have passed over a floating feather. + +Arthur Pym gives the fullest details of the rescue of his companion +and himself after this collision, under conditions of extreme +difficulty. At length, thanks to the second officer of the _Penguin_, +from New London, which arrived on the scene of the catastrophe, the +comrades were picked up, with life all but extinct, and taken back to +Nantucket. + +This adventure, to which I cannot deny an appearance of veracity, was +an ingenious preparation for the chapters that were to follow, and +indeed, up to the day on which Pym penetrates into the polar circle, +the narrative might conceivably be regarded as authentic. But, +beyond the polar circle, above the austral icebergs, it is quite +another thing, and, if the author's work be not one of pure +imagination, I am--well, of any other nationality than my own. Let +us get on. + +Their first adventure had not cooled the two youths, and eight +months after the affair of the _Ariel_--June, 1827--the brig +_Grampus_ was fitted out by the house of Lloyd and Vredenburg for +whaling in the southern seas. This brig was an old, ill-repaired +craft, and Mr. Barnard, the father of Augustus, was its skipper. His +son, who was to accompany him on the voyage, strongly urged Arthur +to go with him, and the latter would have asked nothing better, but +he knew that his family, and especially his mother, would never +consent to let him go. + +This obstacle, however, could not stop a youth not much given to +submit to the wishes of his parents. His head was full of the +entreaties and persuasion of his companion, and he determined to +embark secretly on the _Grampus_, for Mr. Barnard would not have +authorized him to defy the prohibition of his family. He announced +that he had been invited to pass a few days with a friend at New +Bedford, took leave of his parents and left his home. Forty-eight +hours before the brig was to sail, he slipped on board unperceived, +and got into a hiding-place which had been prepared for him unknown +alike to Mr. Barnard and the crew. + +The cabin occupied by Augustus communicated by a trap-door with the +hold of the _Grampus_, which was crowded with barrels, bales, and the +innumerable components of a cargo. Through the trap-door Arthur Pym +reached his hiding-place, which was a huge wooden chest with a +sliding side to it. This chest contained a mattress, blankets, a jar +of water, ship's biscuit, smoked sausage, a roast quarter of +mutton, a few bottles of cordials and liqueurs, and also +writing-materials. Arthur Pym, supplied with a lantern, candles, and +tinder, remained three days and nights in his retreat. Augustus +Barnard had not been able to visit him until just before the _Grampus_ +set sail. + +An hour later, Arthur Pym began to feel the rolling and pitching of +the brig. He was very uncomfortable in the chest, so he got out of +it, and in the dark, while holding on by a rope which was stretched +across the hold to the trap of his friend's cabin, he was +violently sea-sick in the midst of the chaos. Then he crept back +into his chest, ate, and fell asleep. + +Several days elapsed without the reappearance of Augustus Barnard. +Either he had not been able to get down into the hold again, or he +had not ventured to do so, fearing to betray the presence of Arthur +Pym, and thinking the moment for confessing everything to his father +had not yet come. + +Arthur Pym, meanwhile, was beginning to suffer from the hot and +vitiated atmosphere of the hold. Terrible nightmares troubled his +sleep. He was conscious of raving, and in vain sought some place +amid the mass of cargo where he might breathe a little more easily. +In one of these fits of delirium he imagined that he was gripped in +the claws of an African lion,(1) and in a paroxysm of terror he was +about to betray himself by screaming, when he lost consciousness. + +The fact is that he was not dreaming at all. It was not a lion that +Arthur Pym felt crouching upon his chest, it was his own dog, Tiger, +a young Newfoundland. The animal had been smuggled on board by +Augustus Barnard unperceived by anybody--(this, at least, is an +unlikely occurrence). At the moment of Arthur's coming out of his +swoon the faithful Tiger was licking his face and hands with lavish +affection. + +Now the prisoner had a companion. Unfortunately, the said companion +had drunk the contents of the water jar while Arthur was +unconscious, and when Arthur Pym felt thirsty, he discovered that +there was "not a drop to drink!" His lantern had gone out during +his prolonged faint; he could not find the candles and the +tinder-box, and he then resolved to rejoin Augustus Barnard at all +hazards. He came out of the chest, and although faint from inanition +and trembling with weakness, he felt his way in the direction of the +trap-door by means of the rope. But, while he was approaching, one +of the bales of cargo, shifted by the rolling of the ship, fell down +and blocked up the passage. With immense but quite useless exertion +he contrived to get over this obstacle, but when he reached the +trap-door under Augustus Barnard's cabin he failed to raise it, +and on slipping the blade of his knife through one of the joints he +found that a heavy mass of iron was placed upon the trap, as though +it were intended to condemn him beyond hope. He had to renounce his +attempt and drag himself back towards the chest, on which he fell, +exhausted, while Tiger covered him with caresses. + +The master and the dog were desperately thirsty, and when Arthur +stretched out his hand, he found Tiger lying on his back, with his +paws up and his hair on end. He then felt Tiger all over, and his +hand encountered a string passed round the dog's body. A strip of +paper was fastened to the string under his left shoulder. + +Arthur Pym had reached the last stage of weakness. Intelligence was +almost extinct. However, after several fruitless attempts to procure +a light, he succeeded in rubbing the paper with a little +phosphorus--(the details given in Edgar Poe's narrative are +curiously minute at this point)--and then by the glimmer that +lasted less than a second he discerned just seven words at the end +of a sentence. Terrifying words these were: _blood--remain +hidden--life depends on it_. + +What did these words mean? Let us consider the situation of Arthur +Pym, at the bottom of the ship's hold, between the boards of a +chest, without light, without water, with only ardent liquor to +quench his thirst! And this warning to remain hidden, preceded by +the word "blood"--that supreme word, king of words, so full of +mystery, of suffering, of terror! Had there been strife on board the +_Grampus_? Had the brig been attacked by pirates? Had the crew +mutinied? How long had this state of things lasted? + +It might be thought that the marvellous poet had exhausted the +resources of his imagination in the terror of such a situation; but +it was not so. There is more to come! + +Arthur Pym lay stretched upon his mattress, incapable of thought, in +a sort of lethargy; suddenly he became aware of a singular sound, a +kind of continuous whistling breathing. It was Tiger, panting, Tiger +with eyes that glared in the midst of the darkness, Tiger with +gnashing teeth--Tiger gone mad. Another moment and the dog had +sprung upon Arthur Pym, who, wound up to the highest pitch of +horror, recovered sufficient strength to ward off his fangs, and +wrapping around him a blanket which Tiger had torn with his white +teeth, he slipped out of the chest, and shut the sliding side upon +the snapping and struggling brute. + +Arthur Pym contrived to slip through the stowage of the hold, but +his head swam, and, falling against a bale, he let his knife drop +from his hand. + +Just as he felt himself breathing his last sigh he heard his name +pronounced, and a bottle of water was held to his lips. He swallowed +the whole of its contents, and experienced the most exquisite of +pleasures. + +A few minutes later, Augustus Barnard, seated with his comrade in a +corner of the hold, told him all that had occurred on board the brig. + +Up to this point, I repeat, the story is admissible, but we have not +yet come to the events which "surpass all probability by their +marvellousness." + +The crew of the _Grampus_ numbered thirty-six men, including the +Barnards, father and son. After the brig had put to sea on the 20th +of June, Augustus Barnard had made several attempts to rejoin Arthur +Pym in his hiding-place, but in vain. On the third day a mutiny +broke out on board, headed by the ship's cook, a negro like our +Endicott; but he, let me say at once, would never have thought of +heading a mutiny. + +Numerous incidents are related in the romance--the massacre of most +of the sailors who remained faithful to Captain Barnard, then the +turning adrift of the captain and four of those men in a small +whaler's boat when the ship was abreast of the Bermudas. These +unfortunate persons were never heard of again. + +Augustus Barnard would not have been spared, but for the +intervention of the sailing-master of the _Grampus_. This +sailing-master was a half-breed named Dirk Peters, and was the +person whom Captain Len Guy had gone to look for in Illinois! + +The _Grampus_ then took a south-east course under the command of the +mate, who intended to pursue the occupation of piracy in the +southern seas. + +These events having taken place, Augustus Barnard would again have +joined Arthur Pym, but he had been shut up in the forecastle in +irons, and told by the ship's cook that he would not be allowed to +come out until "the brig should be no longer a brig." Nevertheless, +a few days afterwards, Augustus contrived to get rid of his fetters, +to cut through the thin partition between him and the hold, and, +followed by Tiger, he tried to reach his friend's hiding-place. He +could not succeed, but the dog had scented Arthur Pym, and this +suggested to Augustus the idea of fastening a note to Tiger's neck +bearing the words: + +"I scrawl this with blood--remain hidden--your life depends on +it--" + +This note, as we have already learned, Arthur Pym had received. Just +as he had arrived at the last extremity of distress his friend +reached him. + +Augustus added that discord reigned among the mutineers. Some wanted +to take the _Grampus_ towards the Cape Verde Islands; others, and Dirk +Peters was of this number, were bent on sailing to the Pacific Isles. + +Tiger was not mad. He was only suffering from terrible thirst, and +soon recovered when it was relieved. + +The cargo of the _Grampus_ was so badly stowed away that Arthur Pym +was in constant danger from the shifting of the bales, and Augustus, +at all risks, helped him to remove to a corner of the ‘tween decks. + +The half-breed continued to be very friendly with the son of Captain +Barnard, so that the latter began to consider whether the +sailing-master might not be counted on in an attempt to regain +possession of the ship. + +They were just thirty days out from Nantucket when, on the 4th of +July, an angry dispute arose among the mutineers about a little brig +signalled in the offing, which some of them wanted to take and +others would have allowed to escape. In this quarrel a sailor +belonging to the cook's party, to which Dirk Peters had attached +himself, was mortally injured. There were now only thirteen men on +board, counting Arthur Pym. + +Under these circumstances a terrible storm arose, and the _Grampus_ +was mercilessly knocked about. This storm raged until the 9th of +July, and on that day, Dirk Peters having manifested an intention of +getting rid of the mate, Augustus Barnard readily assured him of his +assistance, without, however, revealing the fact of Arthur Pym's +presence on board. Next day, one of the cook's adherents, a man +named Rogers, died in convulsions, and, beyond all doubt, of poison. +Only four of the cook's party then remained, of these Dirk Peters +was one. The mate had five, and would probably end by carrying the +day over the cook's party. + +There was not an hour to lose. The half-breed having informed +Augustus Barnard that the moment for action had arrived, the latter +told him the truth about Arthur Pym. + +While the two were in consultation upon the means to be employed for +regaining possession of the ship, a tempest was raging, and +presently a gust of irresistible force struck the _Grampus_ and flung +her upon her side, so that on righting herself she shipped a +tremendous sea, and there was considerable confusion on board. This +offered a favourable opportunity for beginning the struggle, +although the mutineers had made peace among themselves. The latter +numbered nine men, while the half-breed's party consisted only of +himself, Augustus Barnard and Arthur Pym. The ship's master +possessed only two pistols and a hanger. It was therefore necessary +to act with prudence. + +Then did Arthur Pym (whose presence on board the mutineers could not +suspect) conceive the idea of a trick which had some chance of +succeeding. The body of the poisoned sailor was still lying on the +deck; he thought it likely, if he were to put on the dead man's +clothes and appear suddenly in the midst of those superstitious +sailors, that their terror would place them at the mercy of Dirk +Peters. It was still dark when the half-breed went softly towards +the ship's stern, and, exerting his prodigious strength to the +utmost, threw himself upon the man at the wheel and flung him over +the poop. + +Augustus Barnard and Arthur Pym joined him instantly, each armed +with a belaying-pin. Leaving Dirk Peters in the place of the +steersman, Arthur Pym, so disguised as to present the appearance of +the dead man, and his comrade, posted themselves close to the head +of the forecastle gangway. The mate, the ship's cook, all the +others were there, some sleeping, the others drinking or talking; +guns and pistols were within reach of their hands. + +The tempest raged furiously; it was impossible to stand on the deck. + +At that moment the mate gave the order for Augustus Barnard and Dirk +Peters to be brought to the forecastle. This order was transmitted +to the man at the helm, no other than Dirk Peters, who went down, +accompanied by Augustus Barnard, and almost simultaneously Arthur +Pym made his appearance. + +The effect of the apparition was prodigious. The mate, terrified on +beholding the resuscitated sailor, sprang up, beat the air with his +hands, and fell down dead. Then Dirk Peters rushed upon the others, +seconded by Augustus Barnard, Arthur Pym, and the dog Tiger. In a +few moments all were strangled or knocked on the head,--save Richard +Parker, the sailor, whose life was spared. + +And now, while the tempest was in full force, only four men were +left to work the brig, which was labouring terribly with seven feet +of water in her hold. They had to cut down the mainmast, and, when +morning came, the mizen. That day was truly awful, the night was +more awful still! If Dirk Peters and his companions had not lashed +themselves securely to the remains of the rigging, they must have +been carried away by a tremendous sea, which drove in the hatches of +the _Grampus_. + +Then follows in the romance a minute record of the series of +incidents ensuing upon this situation, from the 14th of July to the +7th of August; the fishing for victuals in the submerged hold, the +coming of a mysterious brig laden with corpses, which poisoned the +atmosphere and passed on like a huge coffin, the sport of a wind of +death; the torments of hunger and thirst; the impossibility of +reaching the provision store; the drawing of lots by straws--the +shortest gave Richard Parker to be sacrificed for the life of the +other three--the death of that unhappy man, who was killed by Dirk +Peters and devoured; lastly, the finding in the hold of a jar of +olives and a small turtle. + +Owing to the displacement of her cargo the _Grampus_ rolled and +pitched more and more. The frightful heat caused the torture of +thirst to reach the extreme limit of human endurance, and on the 1st +of August, Augustus Barnard died. On the 3rd, the brig foundered in +the night, and Arthur Pym and the half-breed, crouching upon the +upturned keel, were reduced to feed upon the barnacles with which +the bottom was covered, in the midst of a crowd of waiting, watching +sharks. Finally, after the shipwrecked mariners of the _Grampus_ had +drifted no less than twenty-five degrees towards the south, they +were picked up by the schooner _Jane_, of Liverpool, Captain William +Guy. + +Evidently, reason is not outraged by an admission of the reality of +these facts, although the situations are strained to the utmost +limits of possibility; but that does not surprise us, for the writer +is the American magician-poet, Edgar Poe. But from this moment +onwards we shall see that no semblance of reality exists in the +succession of incidents. + +Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters were well treated on board the English +schooner _Jane_. In a fortnight, having recovered from the effects of +their sufferings, they remembered them no more. With alternations of +fine and bad weather the _Jane_ sighted Prince Edward's Island on +the 13th of October, then the Crozet Islands, and afterwards the +Kerguelens, which I had left eleven days ago. + +Three weeks were employed in chasing sea-calves; these furnished the +_Jane_ with a goodly cargo. It was during this time that the captain +of the _Jane_ buried the bottle in which his namesake of the _Halbrane_ +claimed to have found a letter containing William Guy's +announcement of his intention to visit the austral seas. + +On the 12th of November, the schooner left the Kerguelens, and after +a brief stay at Tristan d'Acunha she sailed to reconnoitre the +Auroras in 35° 15' of south latitude, and 37° 38' of west +longitude. But these islands were not to be found, and she did not +find them. + +On the 12th of December the _Jane_ headed towards the Antarctic pole. +On the 26th, the first icebergs came in sight beyond the +seventy-third degree. + +From the 1st to the 14th of January, 1828, the movements were +difficult, the polar circle was passed in the midst of ice-floes, +the icebergs' point was doubled and the ship sailed on the surface +of an open sea--the famous open sea where the temperature is 47° +Fahrenheit, and the water is 34°. + +Edgar Poe, every one will allow, gives free rein to his fancy at +this point. No navigator had ever reached latitudes so high--not +even James Weddell of the British Navy, who did not get beyond the +seventy-fourth parallel in 1822. But the achievement of the _Jane_, +although difficult of belief, is trifling in comparison with the +succeeding incidents which Arthur Pym, or rather Edgar Poe, relates +with simple earnestness. In fact he entertained no doubt of reaching +the pole itself. + +In the first place, not a single iceberg is to be seen on this +fantastic sea. Innumerable flocks of birds skim its surface, among +them is a pelican which is shot. On a floating piece of ice is a +bear of the Arctic species and of gigantic size. At last land is +signalled. It is an island of a league in circumference, to which +the name of Bennet Islet was given, in honour of the captain's +partner in the ownership of the _Jane_. + +Naturally, in proportion as the schooner sailed southwards the +variation of the compass became less, while the temperature became +milder, with a sky always clear and a uniform northerly breeze. +Needless to add that in that latitude and in the month of January +there was no darkness. + +The _Jane_ pursued her adventurous course, until, on the 18th of +January, land was sighted in latitude 83° 20' and longitude 43° +5'. + +This proved to be an island belonging to a numerous group scattered +about in a westerly direction. + +The schooner approached and anchored off the shore. Arms were placed +in the boats, and Arthur Pym got into one of the latter with Dirk +Peters. The men rowed shorewards, but were stopped by four canoes +carrying armed men, "new men" the narrative calls them. These +men showed no hostile intentions, but cried out continuously +"anamoo" and "lamalama." When the canoes were alongside the +schooner, the chief, Too-Wit, was permitted to go on board with +twenty of his companions. There was profound astonishment on their +part then, for they took the ship for a living creature, and lavished +caresses on the rigging, the masts, and the bulwarks. Steered +between the reefs by these natives, she crossed a bay with a bottom +of black sand, and cast anchor within a mile of the beach. Then +William Guy, leaving the hostages on board, stepped ashore amid the +rocks. + +If Arthur Pym is to be believed, this was Tsalal Island! Its trees +resembled none of the species in any other zone of our planet. The +composition of the rocks revealed a stratification unknown to modern +mineralogists. Over the bed of the streams ran a liquid substance +without any appearance of limpidity, streaked with distinct veins, +which did not reunite by immediate cohesion when they were parted by +the blade of a knife! + +Klock-Klock, which we are obliged to describe as the chief +"town" of the island, consisted of wretched huts entirely formed +of black skins; it possessed domestic animals resembling the common +pig, a sort of sheep with a black fleece, twenty kinds of fowls, +tame albatross, ducks, and large turtles in great numbers. + +On arriving at Klock-Klock, Captain William Guy and his companions +found a population--which Arthur Pym estimated at ten thousand +souls, men, women, and children--if not to be feared, at least to +be kept at a distance, so noisy and demonstrative were they. +Finally, after a long halt at the hut of Too-Wit, the strangers +returned to the shore, where the "bêche-de-mer"--the favourite +food of the Chinese--would provide enormous cargoes; for the +succulent mollusk is more abundant there than in any other part of +the austral regions. + +Captain William Guy immediately endeavoured to come to an +understanding with Too-Wit on this matter, requesting him to +authorize the construction of sheds in which some of the men of the +_Jane_ might prepare the bêche-de-mer, while the schooner should hold +on her course towards the Pole. Too-Wit accepted this proposal +willingly, and made a bargain by which the natives were to give +their labour in the gathering-in of the precious mollusk. + +At the end of a month, the sheds being finished, three men were told +off to remain at Tsalal. The natives had not given the strangers +cause to entertain the slightest suspicion of them. Before leaving +the place, Captain William Guy wished to return once more to the +village of Klock-Klock, having, from prudent motives, left six men +on board, the guns charged, the bulwark nettings in their place, the +anchor hanging at the forepeak--in a word, all in readiness to +oppose an approach of the natives. Too-Wit, escorted by a hundred +warriors, came out to meet the visitors. Captain William Guy and his +men, although the place was propitious to an ambuscade, walked in +close order, each pressing upon the other. On the right, a little in +advance, were Arthur Pym, Dirk Peters, and a sailor named Allen. +Having reached a spot where a fissure traversed the hillside, Arthur +Pym turned into it in order to gather some hazel nuts which hung in +clusters upon stunted bushes. Having done this, he was returning to +the path, when he perceived that Allen and the half-breed had +accompanied him. They were all three approaching the mouth of the +fissure, when they were thrown down by a sudden and violent shock. +At the same moment the crumbling masses of the hill slid down upon +them, and they instantly concluded that they were doomed to be buried +alive. + +Alive--all three? No! Allen had been so deeply covered by the +sliding soil that he was already smothered, but Arthur Pym and Dirk +Peters contrived to drag themselves on their knees, and opening a +way with their bowie knives, to a projecting mass of harder clay, +which had resisted the movement from above, and from thence they +climbed to a natural platform at the extremity of a wooded ravine. +Above them they could see the blue sky-roof, and from their position +were enabled to survey the surrounding country. + +An artificial landslip, cunningly contrived by the natives, had +taken place. Captain William Guy and his twenty-eight companions had +disappeared; they were crushed beneath more than a million tons of +earth and stones. + +The plain was swarming with natives who had come, no doubt, from the +neighbouring islets, attracted by the prospect of pillaging the +_Jane_. Seventy boats were being paddled towards the ship. The six men +on board fired on them, but their aim was uncertain in the first +volley; a second, in which mitraille and grooved bullets were used, +produced terrible effect. Nevertheless, the _Jane_ being boarded by +the swarming islanders, her defenders were massacred, and she was +set on fire. + +Finally a terrific explosion took place--the fire had reached the +powder store--killing a thousand natives and mutilating as many +more, while the others fled, uttering the cry of _tékéli-li! +tékéli-li!_ + +During the following week, Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters, living on +nuts and bitterns' flesh, escaped discovery by the natives, who +did not suspect their presence. They found themselves at the bottom +of a sort of dark abyss including several planes, but without issue, +hollowed out from the hillside, and of great extent. The two men +could not live in the midst of these successive abysses, and after +several attempts they let themselves slide on one of the slopes of +the hill. Instantly, six savages rushed upon them; but, thanks to +their pistols, and the extraordinary strength of the half-breed, +four of the assailants were killed. The fifth was dragged away by +the fugitives, who reached a boat which had been pulled up on the +beach and was laden with three huge turtles. A score of natives +pursued and vainly tried to stop them; the former were driven off, +and the boat was launched successfully and steered for the south. + +Arthur Pym was then navigating beyond the eighty-fourth degree of +south latitude. It was the beginning of March, that is to say, the +antarctic winter was approaching. Five or six islands, which it was +prudent to avoid, were visible towards the west. Arthur Pym's +opinion was that the temperature would become more mild by degrees +as they approached the pole. They tied together two white shirts +which they had been wearing, and hoisted them to do duty as a sail. +At sight of these shirts the native, who answered to the name of +Nu-Nu, was terrified. For eight days this strange voyage continued, +favoured by a mild wind from the north, in permanent daylight, on a +sea without a fragment of ice, indeed, owing to the high and even +temperature of the water, no ice had been seen since the parallel of +Bennet Island. + +Then it was that Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters entered upon a region of +novelty and wonder. Above the horizon line rose a broad bar of light +grey vapour, striped with long luminous rays, such as are projected +by the polar aurora. A very strong current came to the aid of the +breeze. The boat sailed rapidly upon a liquid surface of milky +aspect, exceedingly hot, and apparently agitated from beneath. A +fine white ash-dust began to fall, and this increased the terror of +Nu-Nu, whose lips trembled over his two rows of black ivory. + +On the 9th of March this rain of ashes fell in redoubled volume, and +the temperature of the water rose so high that the hand could no +longer bear it. The immense curtain of vapour, spread over the +distant perimeter of the southern horizon resembled a boundless +cataract falling noiselessly from the height of some huge rampart +lost in the height of the heavens. + +Twelve days later, it was darkness that hung over these waters, +darkness furrowed by luminous streaks darting from the milky depths +of the Antarctic Ocean, while the incessant shower of ash-dust fell +and melted in its waters. + +The boat approached the cataract with an impetuous velocity whose +cause is not explained in the narrative of Arthur Pym. In the midst +of this frightful darkness a flock of gigantic birds, of livid white +plumage, swept by, uttering their eternal _tékéli-li_, and then the +savage, in the supreme throes of terror, gave up the ghost. + +Suddenly, in a mad whirl of speed, the boat rushed into the grasp of +the cataract, where a vast gulf seemed ready to swallow it up. But +before the mouth of this gulf there stood a veiled human figure, of +greater size than any inhabitant of this earth, and the colour of +the man's skin was the perfect whiteness of snow. + +Such is the strange romance conceived by the more than human genius +of the greatest poet of the New World. + + +(1) The American "lion" is only a small species of puma, and not +formidable enough to terrify a Nantucket youth. J.V. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. +AN OCEAN WAIF. + + +The navigation of the _Halbrane_ went on prosperously with the help of +the sea and the wind. In fifteen days, if this state of things +lasted, she might reach Tristan d'Acunha. Captain Len Guy left the +working of the ship to James West, and well might he do so; there +was nothing to fear with such a seaman as he. + +"Our lieutenant has not his match afloat," said Hurliguerly to +me one day. "He ought to be in command of a flag-ship." + +"Indeed," I replied, "he seems to be a true son of the sea." + +"And then, our _Halbrane_, what a craft! Congratulate yourself, Mr. +Jeorling, and congratulate yourself also that I succeeded in +bringing the captain to change his mind about you." + +"If it was you who obtained that result, boatswain, I thank you +heartily." + +"And so you ought, for he was plaguily against it, was our +captain, in spite of all old man Atkins could say. But I managed to +make him hear reason." + +"I shan't forget it, boatswain, I shan't forget it, since, +thanks to your intervention, instead of moping at Kerguelen I hope +shortly to get within sight of Tristan d'Acunha." + +"In a few days, Mr. Jeorling. Only think, sir, according to what I +hear tell, they are making ships in England and America with +machines in their insides, and wheels which they use as a duck uses +its paddles. All right, we shall know what's the good of them when +they come into use. My notion is, however, that those ships will +never be able to fight with a fine frigate sailing with a fresh +breeze." + + * * * * * + +It was the 3rd of September. If nothing occurred to delay us, our +schooner would be in sight of port in three days. The chief island +of the group is visible on clear days at a great distance. + +That day, between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, I was +walking backwards and forwards on the deck, on the windward side. We +were sliding smoothly over the surface of an undulating sea. The +_Halbrane_ resembled an enormous bird, one of the gigantic albatross +kind described by Arthur Pym--which had spread its sail-like wings, +and was carrying a whole ship's crew towards space. + +James West was looking out through his glasses to starboard at an +object floating two or three miles away, and several sailors, +hanging over the side, were also curiously observing it. + +I went forward and looked attentively at the object. It was an +irregularly formed mass about twelve yards in length, and in the +middle of it there appeared a shining lump. + +"That is no whale," said Martin Holt, the sailing-master. "It +would have blown once or twice since we have been looking at it." + +"Certainly!" assented Hardy. "Perhaps it is the carcase of +some deserted ship." + +"May the devil send it to the bottom!" cried Roger. "It would +be a bad job to come up against it in the dark; it might send us +down before we could know what had happened." + +"I believe you," added Drap, "and these derelicts are more +dangerous than a rock, for they are now here and again there, and +there's no avoiding them." + +Hurliguerly came up at this moment and planted his elbows on the +bulwark, alongside of mine. + +"What do you think of it, boatswain?" I asked. + +"It is my opinion, Mr. Jeorling," replied the boatswain, "that +what we see there is neither a blower nor a wreck, but merely a lump +of ice." + +"Hurliguerly is right," said James West; "it is a lump of ice, +a piece of an iceberg which the currents have carried hither." + +"What?" said I, "to the forty-fifth parallel?" + +"Yes, sir," answered West, "that has occurred, and the ice +sometimes gets up as high as the Cape, if we are to take the word of +a French navigator, Captain Blosseville, who met one at this height +in 1828." + +"Then this mass will melt before long," I observed, feeling not +a little surprised that West had honoured me by so lengthy a reply. + +"It must indeed be dissolved in great part already," he +continued, "and what we see is the remains of a mountain of ice +which must have weighed millions of tons." + +Captain Len Guy now appeared, and perceiving the group of sailors +around West, he came forward. A few words were exchanged in a low +tone between the captain and the lieutenant, and the latter passed +his glass to the former, who turned it upon the floating object, now +at least a mile nearer to us. + +"It is ice," said he, "and it is lucky that it is dissolving! +The _Halbrane_ might have come to serious grief by collision with it +in the night." + +I was struck by the fixity of his gaze upon the object, whose nature +he had so promptly declared: he continued to contemplate it for +several minutes, and I guessed what was passing in the mind of the +man under the obsession of a fixed idea. This fragment of ice, torn +from the southern icebergs, came from those waters wherein his +thoughts continually ranged. He wanted to see it more near, perhaps +at close quarters, it might be to take away some bits of it. At an +order from West the schooner was directed towards the floating mass; +presently we were within two cables'-length, and I could examine +it. + +The mound in the center was melting rapidly; before the end of the +day nothing would remain of the fragment of ice which had been +carried by the currents so high up as the forty-fifth parallel. + +Captain Len Guy gazed at it steadily, but he now needed no glass, +and presently we all began to distinguish a second object which +little by little detached itself from the mass, according as the +melting process went on--a black shape, stretched on the white ice. + +What was our surprise, mingled with horror, when we saw first an +arm, then a leg, then a trunk, then a head appear, forming a human +body, not in a state of nakedness, but clothed in dark garments. + +For a moment I even thought that the limbs moved, that the hands +were stretched towards us. + +The crew uttered a simultaneous cry. No! this body was not moving, +but it was slowly slipping off the icy surface. + +I looked at Captain Len Guy. His face was as livid as that of the +corpse that had drifted down from the far latitudes of the austral +zone. What could be done was done to recover the body of the +unfortunate man, and who can tell whether a faint breath of life did +not animate it even then? In any case his pockets might perhaps +contain some document that would enable his identity to be +established. Then, accompanied by a last prayer, those human remains +should be committed to the depths of the ocean, the cemetery of +sailors who die at sea. + +A boat was let down. I followed it with my eyes as it neared the +side of the ice fragment eaten by the waves. + +Hurliguerly set foot upon a spot which still offered some +resistance. Gratian got out after him, while Francis kept the boat +fast by the chain. The two crept along the ice until they reached +the corpse, then drew it to them by the arms and legs and so got it +into the boat. A few strokes of the oars and the boatswain had +rejoined the schooner. The corpse, completely frozen, having been +laid at the foot of the mizen mast, Captain Len Guy approached and +examined it long and closely, as though he sought to recognize it. + +It was the corpse of a sailor, dressed in coarse stuff, woollen +trousers and a patched jersey; a belt encircled his waist twice. His +death had evidently occurred some months previously, probably very +soon after the unfortunate man had been carried away by the drift. +He was about forty, with slightly grizzled hair, a mere skeleton +covered with skin. He must have suffered agonies of hunger. + +Captain Len Guy lifted up the hair, which had been preserved by the +cold, raised the head, gazed upon the scaled eyelids, and finally +said with a sort of sob,-- + +"Patterson! Patterson!" + +"Patterson?" I exclaimed. + +The name, common as it was, touched some chord in my memory. When +had I heard it uttered? Had I read it anywhere? + +At this moment, James West, on a hint from the boatswain, searched +the pockets of the dead man, and took out of them a knife, some +string, an empty tobacco box, and lastly a leather pocket-book +furnished with a metallic pencil. + +"Give me that," said the captain. Some of the leaves were +covered with writing, almost entirely effaced by the damp. He found, +however, some words on the last page which were still legible, and +my emotion may be imagined when I heard him read aloud in a +trembling voice: "The _Jane . . ._ Tsalal island . . . by +eighty-three . . . There . . . eleven years . . . Captain . . . five +sailors surviving . . . Hasten to bring them aid." + +And under these lines was a name, a signature, the name of Patterson! + +Then I remembered! Patterson was the second officer of the _Jane_, the +mate of that schooner which had picked up Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters +on the wreck of the _Grampus_, the _Jane_ having reached Tsalal Island; +the _Jane_ which was attacked by natives and blown up in the midst of +those waters. + +So then it was all true? Edgar Poe's work was that of an +historian, not a writer of romance? Arthur Gordon Pym's journal +had actually been confided to him! Direct relations had been +established between them! Arthur Pym existed, or rather he had +existed, he was a real being! And he had died, by a sudden and +deplorable death under circumstances not revealed before he had +completed the narrative of his extraordinary voyage. And what +parallel had he reached on leaving Tsalal Island with his companion, +Dirk Peters, and how had both of them been restored to their native +land, America? + +I thought my head was turning, that I was going mad--I who accused +Captain Guy of being insane! No! I had not heard aright! I had +misunderstood! This was a mere phantom of my fancy! + +And yet, how was I to reject the evidence found on the body of the +mate of the _Jane_, that Patterson whose words were supported by +ascertained dates? And above all, how could I retain a doubt, after +James West, who was the most self-possessed among us, had succeeded +in deciphering the following fragments of sentences:-- + +"Drifting since the 3rd of June north of Tsalal Island. . . . Still +there . . . Captain William Guy and five of the men of the _Jane_--the +piece of ice I am on is drifting across the iceberg . . . food will soon +fail me. . . . Since the 13th of June . . . my last resources +exhausted . . . to-day . . . 16th of June . . . I am going to die." + +So then for nearly three months Patterson's body had lain on the +surface of this ice-waif which we had met on our way from the +Kerguelens to Tristan d'Acunha! Ah! why had we not saved the mate +of the _Jane_! + +I had to yield to evidence. Captain Len Guy, who knew Patterson, had +recognized him in this frozen corpse! It was indeed he who +accompanied the captain of the _Jane_ when he had interred that +bottle, containing the letter which I had refused to believe +authentic, at the Kerguelens. Yes! for eleven years, the survivors +of the English schooner had been cast away there without any hope of +succour. + +Len Guy turned to me and said,-- + +"Do you believe--_now_?" + +"I believe," said I, falteringly; "but Captain William Guy of +the _Jane_, and Captain Len Guy of the _Halbrane_--" + +"Are brothers!" he cried in a loud voice, which was heard by all +the crew. + +Then we turned our eyes once more to the place where the lump of ice +had been floating; but the double influence of the solar rays and +the waters in this latitude had produced its effect, no trace of the +dead man's last refuge remained on the surface of the sea. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. +TRISTAN D'ACUNHA. + + +Four days later, the _Halbrane_ neared that curious island of Tristan +d'Acunha, which may be described as the big boiler of the African +seas. By that time I had come to realize that the "hallucination" of +Captain Len Guy was a truth, and that he and the captain of the _Jane_ +(also a reality) were connected with each other by this ocean waif from +the authentic expedition of Arthur Pym. My last doubts were buried in +the depths of the ocean with the body of Patterson. + +And now, what was Captain Len Guy going to do? There was not a +shadow of doubt on that point. He would take the _Halbrane_ to Tsalal +Island, as marked upon Patterson's note-book. His lieutenant, +James West, would go whithersoever he was ordered to go; his crew +would not hesitate to follow him, and would not be stopped by any +fear of passing the limits assigned to human power, for the soul of +their captain and the strength of their lieutenant would be in them. + +This, then, was the reason why Captain Len Guy refused to take +passengers on board his ship, and why he had told me that his routes +never were certain; he was always hoping that an opportunity for +venturing into the sea of ice might arise. Who could tell indeed, +whether he would not have sailed for the south at once without +putting in at Tristan d'Acunha, if he had not wanted water? After +what I had said before I went on board the _Halbrane_, I should have +had no right to insist on his proceeding to the island for the sole +purpose of putting me ashore. But a supply of water was +indispensable, and besides, it might be possible there to put the +schooner in a condition to contend with the icebergs and gain the +open sea--since open it was beyond the eighty-second parallel---in +fact to attempt what Lieutenant Wilkes of the American Navy was then +attempting. + +The navigators knew at this period, that from the middle of November +to the beginning of March was the limit during which some success +might be looked for. The temperature is more bearable then, storms +are less frequent, the icebergs break loose from the mass, the ice +wall has holes in it, and perpetual day reigns in that distant +region. + +Tristan d'Acunha lies to the south of the zone of the regular +south-west winds. Its climate is mild and moist. The prevailing +winds are west and north-west, and, during the winter--August and +September--south. The island was inhabited, from 1811, by American +whale fishers. After them, English soldiers were installed there to +watch the St. Helena seas, and these remained until after the death +of Napoleon, in 1821. Several years later the group of islands +populated by Americans and Dutchmen from the Cape acknowledged the +suzerainty of Great Britain, but this was not so in 1839. My +personal observation at that date convinced me that the possession +of Tristan d'Acunha was not worth disputing. In the sixteenth +century the islands were called the Land of Life. + +On the 5th of September, in the morning, the towering volcano of the +chief island was signalled; a huge snow-covered mass, whose crater +formed the basin of a small lake. Next day, on our approach, we +could distinguish a vast heaped-up lava field. At this distance the +surface of the water was striped with gigantic seaweeds, vegetable +ropes, varying in length from six hundred to twelve hundred feet, +and as thick as a wine barrel. + +Here I should mention that for three days subsequent to the finding +of the fragment of ice, Captain Len Guy came on deck for strictly +nautical purposes only, and I had no opportunities of seeing him +except at meals, when he maintained silence, that not even James +West could have enticed him to break. I made no attempt to do this, +being convinced that the hour would come when Len Guy would again +speak to me of his brother, and of the efforts which he intended to +make to save him and his companions. Now, I repeat, the season being +considered, that hour had not come, when the schooner cast anchor on +the 6th of September at Ansiedling, in Falmouth Bay, precisely in +the place indicated in Arthur Pym's narrative as the moorings of +the _Jane_. + +At the period of the arrival of the _Jane_, an ex-corporal of the +English artillery, named Glass, reigned over a little colony of +twenty-six individuals, who traded with the Cape, and whose only +vessel was a small schooner. At our arrival this Glass had more than +fifty subjects, and was, as Arthur Pym remarked, quite independent +of the British Government. Relations with the ex-corporal were +established on the arrival of the _Halbrane_, and he proved very +friendly and obliging. West, to whom the captain left the business +of refilling the water tanks and taking in supplies of fresh meat +and vegetables, had every reason to be satisfied with Glass, who, no +doubt, expected to be paid, and was paid, handsomely. + +The day after our arrival I met ex-corporal Glass, a vigorous, +well-preserved man, whose sixty years had not impaired his +intelligent vivacity. Independently of his trade with the Cape and +the Falklands, he did an important business in seal-skins and the +oil of marine animals, and his affairs were prosperous. As he +appeared very willing to talk, I entered briskly into conversation +with this self-appointed Governor of a contented little colony, by +asking him,-- + +"Do many ships put in to Tristan d'Acunha?" + +"As many as we require," he replied, rubbing his hands together +behind his back, according to his invariable custom. + +"In the fine season?" + +"Yes, in the fine season, if indeed we can be said to have any +other in these latitudes." + +"I congratulate you, Mr. Glass. But it is to be regretted that +Tristan d'Acunha has not a single port. If you possessed a +landing-stage, now?" + +"For what purpose, sir, when nature has provided us with such a +bay as this, where there is shelter from gales, and it is easy to +lie snug right up against the rocks? No, Tristan has no port, and +Tristan can do without one." + +Why should I have contradicted this good man? He was proud of his +island, just as the Prince of Monaco is justly proud of his tiny +principality. + +I did not persist, and we talked of various things. He offered to +arrange for me an excursion to the depths of the thick forests, +which clothed the volcano up to the middle of the central cove. + +I thanked him, but declined his offer, preferring to employ my +leisure on land in some mineralogical studies. Besides, the _Halbrane_ +was to set sail so soon as she had taken in her provisions. + +"Your captain is in a remarkable hurry!" said Governor Glass. + +"You think so?" + +"He is in such haste that his lieutenant does not even talk of +buying skins or oil from me." + +"We require only fresh victuals and fresh water, Mr. Glass." + +"Very well," replied the Governor, who was rather annoyed, +"what the _Halbrane_ will not take other vessels will." + +Then he resumed,-- + +"And where is your schooner bound for on leaving us?" + +"For the Falklands, no doubt, where she can be repaired." + +"You, sir, are only a passenger, I suppose?" + +"As you say, Mr. Glass, and I had even intended to remain at +Tristan d'Acunha for some weeks. But I have had to relinquish that +project." + +"I am sorry to hear it, sir. We should have been happy to offer +you hospitality while awaiting the arrival of another ship." + +"Such hospitality would have been most valuable to me," I +replied, "but unfortunately I cannot avail myself of it." + +In fact, I had finally resolved not to quit the schooner, but to +embark for America from the Falkland Isles without much delay. I +felt sure that Captain Len Guy would not refuse to take me to the +islands. I informed Mr. Glass of my intention, and he remarked, +still in a tone of annoyance,-- + +"As for your captain, I have not even seen the colour of his +hair." + +"I don't think he has any intention of coming ashore." + +"Is he ill?" + +"Not to my knowledge. But it does not concern you, since he has +sent his lieutenant to represent him." + +"Oh, _he's_ a cheerful person! One may extract two words from him +occasionally. Fortunately, it is easier to get coin out of his +pocket than speech out of his lips." + +"That's the important thing, Mr. Glass." + +"You are right, sir--Mr. Jeorling, of Connecticut, I believe?" + +I assented. + +"So! I know _your_ name, while I have yet to learn that of the +captain of the _Halbrane_." + +"His name is Guy--Len Guy." + +"An Englishman?" + +"Yes--an Englishman." + +"He might have taken the trouble to pay a visit to a countryman of +his, Mr. Jeorling! But stay! I had some dealings formerly with a +captain of that name. Guy, Guy--" + +"William Guy?" I asked, quickly. + +"Precisely. William Guy." + +"Who commanded the _Jane_?" + +"The _Jane_? Yes. The same man." + +"An English schooner which put in at Tristan d'Acunha eleven +years ago?" + +"Eleven years, Mr. Jeorling. I had been settled in the island +where Captain Jeffrey, of the _Berwick_, of London, found me in the +year 1824, for full seven years. I perfectly recall this William +Guy, as if he were before me. He was a fine, open-hearted fellow, +and I sold him a cargo of seal-skins. He had the air of a gentleman, +rather proud, but good-natured." + +"And the _Jane_?" + +"I can see her now at her moorings in the same place as the +_Halbrane_. She was a handsome vessel of one hundred and eighty tons, +very slender for'ards. She belonged to the port of Liverpool." + +"Yes; that is true, all that is true." + +"And is the _Jane_ still afloat, Mr. Jeorling?" + +"No, Mr. Glass." + +"Was she lost?" + +"The fact is only too true, and the greater part of her crew with +her." + +"Will you tell me how this happened?" + +"Willingly. On leaving Tristan d'Acunha the _Jane_ headed for the +bearings of the Aurora and other islands, which William Guy hoped to +recognize from information--" + +"That came from me," interrupted the ex-corporal. "And those +other islands, may I learn whether the _Jane_ discovered them?" + +"No, nor the Auroras either, although William Guy remained several +weeks in those waters, running from east to west, with a look-out +always at the masthead." + +"He must have lost his bearings, Mr. Jeorling, for, if several +whalers, who were well deserving of credit, are to be believed, +these islands do exist, and it was even proposed to give them my +name." + +"That would have been but just," I replied politely. + +"It will be very vexatious if they are not discovered some day," added +the Governor, in a tone which indicated that he was not devoid of +vanity. + +"It was then," I resumed, "that Captain Guy resolved to carry +out a project he had long cherished, and in which he was encouraged +by a certain passenger who was on board the _Jane_--" + +"Arthur Gordon Pym," exclaimed Glass, "and his companion, one +Dirk Peters; the two had been picked up at sea by the schooner." + +"You knew them, Mr. Glass?" I asked eagerly. + +"Knew them, Mr. Jeorling? I should think I did, indeed! That +Arthur Pym was a strange person, always wanting to rush into +adventures--a real rash American, quite capable of starting off to +the moon! Has he gone there at last?" + +"No, not quite, Mr. Glass, but, during her voyage, the schooner, +it seems, did clear the polar circle, and pass the ice-wall. She got +farther than any ship had ever done before." + +"What a wonderful feat!" + +"Yes. Unfortunately, the _Jane_ did not return. Arthur Pym and +William Guy escaped the doom of the _Jane_ and the most of her crew. +They even got back to America, how I do not know. Afterwards Arthur +Pym died, but under what circumstances I am ignorant. As for the +half-breed, after having retired to Illinois, he went off one day +without a word to anyone, and no trace of him has been found." + +"And William Guy?" asked Mr. Glass. + +I related the finding of the body of Patterson, the mate of the +_Jane_, and I added that everything led to the belief that the captain +of the _Jane_ and five of his companions were still living on an +island in the austral regions, at less than six degrees from the +Pole. + +"Ah, Mr. Jeorling," cried Glass, "if some day William Guy and +his sailors might be saved! They seemed to me to be such fine +fellows." + +"That is just what the _Halbrane_ is certainly going to attempt, so +soon as she is ready, for her captain, Len Guy, is William Guy's +own brother." + +"Is it possible? Well, although I do not know Captain Len Guy, I +venture to assert that the brothers do not resemble each other--at +least in their behaviour to the Governor of Tristan d'Acunha!" + +It was plain that the Governor was profoundly mortified, but no +doubt he consoled himself by the prospect of selling his goods at +twenty-five per cent. above their value. + +One thing was certain: Captain Len Guy had no intention of coming +ashore. This was the more singular, inasmuch as he could not be +unaware that the _Jane_ had put in at Tristan d'Acunha before +proceeding to the southern seas. Surely he might be expected to put +himself in communication with the last European who had shaken hands +with his brother! + +Nevertheless, Captain Len Guy remained persistently on board his +ship, without even going on deck; and, looking through the glass +skylight of his cabin, I saw him perpetually stooping over the +table, which was covered with open books and out-spread charts. No +doubt the charts were those of the austral latitudes, and the books +were narratives of the precursors of the _Jane_ in those mysterious +regions of the south. + +On the table lay also a volume which had been read and re-read a +hundred times. Most of its pages were dogs'-eared and their +margins were filled with pencilled notes. And on the cover shone the +title in brightly gilded letters: + +THE ADVENTURES OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. +BOUND FOR THE FALKLANDS. + + +On the 8th of September, in the evening, I had taken leave of His +Excellency the Governor-General of the Archipelago of Tristan +d'Acunha--for such is the official title bestowed upon himself by +that excellent fellow, Glass, ex-corporal of artillery in the +British Army. On the following day, before dawn, the _Halbrane_ sailed. + +After we had rounded Herald Point, the few houses of Ansiedlung +disappeared behind the extremity of Falmouth Bay. A fine breeze from +the east carried us along gaily. + +During the morning we left behind us in succession Elephant Bay, +Hardy Rock, West Point, Cotton Bay, and Daly's Promontory; but it +took the entire day to lose sight of the volcano of Tristan +d'Acunha, which is eight thousand feet high; its snow-clad bulk +was at last veiled by the shades of evening. + +During that week our voyage proceeded under the most favourable +conditions; if these were maintained, the end of the month of +September ought to bring us within sight of the first peaks of the +Falkland Group; and so, very sensibly towards the south; the +schooner having descended from the thirty-eighth parallel to the +fifty-fifth degree of latitude. + +The most daring, or, perhaps I ought to say, the most lucky of those +discoverers who had preceded the _Halbrane_, under the command of +Captain Len Guy, in the Antarctic seas, had not gone beyond--Kemp, +the sixty-sixth parallel; Ballerry, the sixty-seventh; Biscoe, the +sixty-eighth; Bellinghausen and Morrell, the seventieth; Cook, the +seventy-first; Weddell, the seventy-fourth. And it was beyond the +eighty-third, nearly five hundred and fifty miles farther, that we +must go to the succour of the survivors of the _Jane_! + +I confess that for a practical man of unimaginative temperament, I +felt strangely excited; a nervous restlessness had taken possession +of me. I was haunted by the figures of Arthur Pym and his +companions, lost in Antarctic ice-deserts. I began to feel a desire +to take part in the proposed undertaking of Captain Len Guy. I +thought about it incessantly. As a fact there was nothing to recall +me to America. It is true that whether I should get the consent of +the commander of the _Halbrane_ remained to be seen; but, after all, +why should he refuse to keep me as a passenger? Would it not be a +very "human" satisfaction to him to give me material proof that +he was in the right, by taking me to the very scene of a catastrophe +that I had regarded as fictitious, showing me the remains of the +_Jane_ at Tsalal, and landing me on that selfsame island which I had +declared to be a myth? + +Nevertheless, I resolved to wait, before I came to any definite +determination, until an opportunity of speaking to the captain +should arise. + +[Illustration: Cook's route was effectually barred by ice floes.] + +After an interval of unfavourable weather, during which the _Halbrane_ +made but slow progress, on the 4th of October, in the morning, the +aspect of the sky and the sea underwent a marked change. The wind +became calm, the waves abated, and the next day the breeze veered to +the north-west. This was very favourable to us, and in ten days, +with a continuance of such fortunate conditions, we might hope to +reach the Falklands. + +It was on the 11th that the opportunity of an explanation with +Captain Len Guy was presented to me, and by himself, for he came out +of his cabin, advanced to the side of the ship where I was seated, +and took his place at my side. + +Evidently he wished to talk to me, and of what, if not the subject +which entirely absorbed him? He began by saying: + +"I have not yet had the pleasure of a chat with you, Mr. Jeorling, +since our departure from Tristan d'Acunha!" + +"To my regret, captain," I replied, but with reserve, for I +wanted him to make the running. + +"I beg you to excuse me," he resumed, "I have so many things +to occupy me and make me anxious. A plan of campaign to organize, in +which nothing must be unforeseen or unprovided for. I beg you not to +be displeased with me--" + +"I am not, I assure you." + +"That is all right, Mr. Jeorling; and now that I know you, that I +am able to appreciate you, I congratulate myself upon having you for +a passenger until our arrival at the Falklands." + +"I am very grateful, captain, for what you have done for me, and I +feel encouraged to--" + +The moment seemed propitious to my making my proposal, when Captain +Len Guy interrupted me. + +"Well, Mr. Jeorling," he asked, "are you now convinced of the +reality of the voyage of the _Jane_, or do you still regard Edgar +Poe's book as a work of pure imagination?" + +"I do not so regard it, captain." + +"You no longer doubt that Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters have really +existed, or that my brother William Guy and five of his companions +are living?" + +"I should be the most incredulous of men, captain, to doubt either +fact, and my earnest desire is that the favour of Heaven may attend +you and secure the safety of the shipwrecked mariners of the _Jane_." + +"I will do all in my power, Mr. Jeorling, and by the blessing of +God I shall succeed." + +"I hope so, captain. Indeed, I am certain it will be so, and if +you consent--" + +"Is it not the case that you talked of this matter with one Glass, +an English ex-corporal, who sets up to be Governor of Tristan +d'Acunha?" inquired the captain, without allowing me to finish +my sentence. + +"That is so," I replied, "and what I learned from Glass has +contributed not a little to change my doubts into certainty." + +"Ah! he has satisfied you?" + +"Yes. He perfectly remembers to have seen the _Jane_, eleven years +ago, when she had put in at Tristan d'Acunha." + +"The _Jane_--and my brother?" + +"He told me that he had personal dealings with Captain William +Guy." + +"And he traded with the _Jane_?" + +"Yes, as he has just been trading with the _Halbrane_." + +"She was moored in this bay?" + +"In the same place as your schooner." + +"And--Arthur Pym--Dirk Peters?" + +"He was with them frequently." + +"Did he ask what had become of them?" + +"Oh yes, and I informed him of the death of Arthur Pym, whom he +regarded as a foolhardy adventurer, capable of any daring folly." + +"Say a madman, and a dangerous madman, Mr. Jeorling. Was it not he +who led my unfortunate brother into that fatal enterprise?" + +"There is, indeed, reason to believe so from his narrative." + +"And never to forget it!" added the captain in a tone of agitation. + +"This man, Glass," I resumed, "also knew Patterson, the mate +of the _Jane_." + +"He was a fine, brave, faithful fellow, Mr. Jeorling, and devoted, +body and soul, to my brother." + +"As West is to you, captain." + +"Does Glass know where the shipwrecked men from the _Jane_ are +now?" + +"I told him, captain, and also all that you have resolved to do to +save them." + +I did not think proper to add that Glass had been much surprised at +Captain Guy's abstaining from visiting him, as, in his absurd +vanity, he held the commander of the _Halbrane_ bound to do, nor that +he did not consider the Governor of Tristan d'Acunha bound to take +the initiative. + +"I wish to ask you, Mr. Jeorling, whether you think everything in +Arthur Pym's journal, which has been published by Edgar Poe, is +exactly true?" + +"I think there is some need for doubt," I answered "the +singular character of the hero of those adventures being taken into +consideration--at least concerning the phenomena of the island of +Tsalal. And we know that Arthur Pym was mistaken in asserting that +Captain William Guy and several of his companions perished in the +landslip of the hill at Klock-Klock." + +"Ah! but he does not assert this, Mr. Jeorling! He says only that, +when he and Dirk Peters had reached the opening through which they +could discern the surrounding country, the seat of the artificial +earthquake was revealed to them. Now, as the whole face of the hill +was rushing into the ravine, the fate of my brother and twenty-nine +of his men could not be doubtful to his mind. He was, most +naturally, led to believe that Dirk Peters and himself were the only +white men remaining alive on the island. He said nothing but +this--nothing more. These were only suppositions--very reasonable, +are they not?" + +"I admit that, fully, captain." + +"But now, thanks to Patterson's note-book, we are certain that +my brother and five of his companions escaped from the landslip +contrived by the natives." + +"That is quite clear, captain. But, as to what became of the +survivors of the _Jane_, whether they were taken by the natives of +Tsalal and kept in captivity, or remained free, Patterson's +note-book says nothing, nor does it relate under what circumstances +he himself was carried far away from them." + +"All that we shall learn, Mr. Jeorling. Yes, we shall know all. +The main point is that we are quite sure my brother and five of his +sailors were living less than four months ago on some part of Tsalal +Island. There is now no question of a romance signed ‘Edgar +Poe,' but of a veracious narrative signed ‘Patterson.'" + +"Captain," said I, "will you let me be one of your company +until the end of the campaign of the _Halbrane_ in the Antarctic +seas?" + +Captain Len Guy looked at me with a glance as penetrating as a keen +blade. Otherwise he did not appear surprised by the proposal I had +made; perhaps he had been expecting it--and he uttered only the +single word: + +"Willingly." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. +FITTING OUT THE _HALBRANE_. + + +On the 15th of October, our schooner cast anchor in Port Egmont, on +the north of West Falkland. The group is composed of two islands, +one the above-named, the other Soledad or East Falkland. Captain Len +Guy gave twelve hours' leave to the whole crew. The next day the +proceedings were to begin by a careful and minute inspection of the +vessel's hull and keel, in view of the contemplated prolonged +navigation of the Antarctic seas. That day Captain Len Guy went +ashore, to confer with the Governor of the group on the subject of +the immediate re-victualling of the schooner. He did not intend to +make expense a consideration, because the whole adventure might be +wrecked by an unwise economy. Besides I was ready to aid with my +purse, as I told him, and I intended that we should be partners in +tile cost of this expedition. + +James West remained on board all day, according to his custom in the +absence of the captain, and was engaged until evening in the +inspection of the hold. I did not wish to go ashore until the next +day. I should have ample time while we remained in port to explore +Port Egmont and its surroundings, and to study the geology and +mineralogy of the island. Hurliguerly regarded the opportunity as +highly favourable for the renewal of talk with me, and availed +himself of it accordingly. He accosted me as follows: + +"Accept my sincere compliments, Mr. Jeorling." + +"And wherefore, boatswain?" + +"On account of what I have just heard--that you are to come with +us to the far end of the Antarctic seas." + +"Oh! not so far, I imagine, and if it is not a matter of going +beyond the eighty-fourth parallel--" + +"Who can tell," replied the boatswain, "at all events the +_Halbrane_ will make more degrees of latitude than any other ship +before her." + +"We shall see." + +"And does that not alarm you, Mr. Jeorling?" + +"Not in the very least." + +"Nor us, rest assured. No, no! You see, Mr. Jeorling, our captain +is a good one, although he is no talker. You only need to take him +the right way! First he gives you the passage to Tristan d'Acunha +that he refused you at first, and now he extends it to the pole." + +"The pole is not the question, boatswain." + +"Ah! it will be reached at last, some day." + +"The thing has not yet been done. And, besides, I don't take +much interest in the pole, and have no ambition to conquer it. In +any case it is only to Tsalal Island--" + +"Tsalal Island, of course. Nevertheless, you will acknowledge that +our captain has been very accommodating to you, and--" + +"And therefore I am much obliged to him, boatswain, and," I +hastened to add, "to you also; since it is to your influence I owe +my passage." + +"Very likely." Hurliguerly, a good fellow at bottom, as I +afterwards learned, discerned a little touch of irony in my tone; +but he did not appear to do so; he was resolved to persevere in his +patronage of me. And, indeed, his conversation could not be +otherwise than profitable to me, for he was thoroughly acquainted +with the Falkland Islands. The result was that on the following day +I went ashore adequately prepared to begin my perquisitions. At that +period the Falklands were not utilized as they have been since. + +It was at a later date that Port Stanley--described by Elisée +Réclus, the French geographer, as "ideal"--was discovered. +Port Stanley is sheltered at every point of the compass, and could +contain all the fleets of Great Britain. + +If I had been sailing for the last two months with bandaged eyes, +and without knowing whither the _Halbrane_ was bound, and had been +asked during the first few hours at our moorings, "Are you in the +Falkland Isles or in Norway?" I should have puzzled how to answer +the question. For here were coasts forming deep creeks, the steep +hills with peaked sides, and the coast-ledges faced with grey rock. +Even the seaside climate, exempt from great extremes of cold and +heat, is common to the two countries. Besides, the frequent rains of +Scandinavia visit Magellan's region in like abundance. Both have +dense fogs, and, in spring and autumn, winds so fierce that the very +vegetables in the fields are frequently rooted up. + +A few walks inland would, however, have sufficed to make me +recognize that I was still separated by the equator from the waters +of Northern Europe. What had I found to observe in the neighbourhood +of Port Egmont after my explorations of the first few days? Nothing +but the signs of a sickly vegetation, nowhere arborescent. Here and +there a few shrubs grew, in place of the flourishing firs of the +Norwegian mountains, and the surface of a spongy soil which sinks +and rises under the foot is carpeted with mosses, fungi, and +lichens. No! this was not the enticing country where the echoes of +the sagas resound, this was not the poetic realm of Wodin and the +Valkyries. + +On the deep waters of the Falkland Strait, which separates the two +principal isles, great masses of extraordinary aquatic vegetation +floated, and the bays of the Archipelago, where whales were already +becoming scarce, were frequented by other marine mammals of enormous +size--seals, twenty-five feet long by twenty in circumference, and +great numbers of sea elephants, wolves, and lions, of proportions no +less gigantic. The uproar made by these animals, by the females and +their young especially, surpasses description. One would think that +herds of cattle were bellowing on the beach. Neither difficulty nor +danger attends the capture, or at least the slaughter of the marine +beasts. The sealers kill them with a blow of a club when they are +lying in the sands on the strand. These are the special features +that differentiate Scandinavia from the Falklands, not to speak of +the infinite number of birds which rose on my approach, grebe, +cormorants, black-headed swans, and above all, tribes of penguins, +of which hundreds of thousands are massacred every year. + +One day, when the air was filled with a sound of braying, sufficient +to deafen one, I asked an old sailor belonging to Port Egmont,-- + +"Are there asses about here?" + +"Sir," he replied, "those are not asses that you hear, but +penguins." + +The asses themselves, had any been there, would have been deceived +by the braying of these stupid birds. I pursued my investigations +some way to the west of the bay. West Falkland is more extensive +than its neighbour, La Soledad, and possesses another fort at the +southern point of Byron's Sound--too far off for me to go there. + +I could not estimate the population of the Archipelago even +approximately. Probably, it did not then exceed from two to three +hundred souls, mostly English, with some Indians, Portuguese, +Spaniards, Gauchos from the Argentine Pampas, and natives from Tierra +Del Fuego. On the other hand, the representatives of the ovine and +bovine races were to be counted by tens of thousands. More than five +hundred thousand sheep yield over four hundred thousand dollars' +worth of wool yearly. There are also horned cattle bred on the +islands; these seem to have increased in size, while the other +quadrupeds, for instance, horses, pigs, and rabbits, have decreased. +All these live in a wild state, and the only beast of prey is the +dog-fox, a species peculiar to the fauna of the Falklands. + +Not without reason has this island been called "a cattle farm." +What inexhaustible pastures, what an abundance of that savoury +grass, the tussock, does nature lavish on animals there! Australia, +though so rich in this respect, does not set a better spread table +before her ovine and bovine pensioners. + +The Falklands ought to be resorted to for the re-victualling of +ships. The groups are of real importance to navigators making for +the Strait of Magellan, as well as to those who come to fish in the +vicinity of the polar regions. + +When the work on the hull was done, West occupied himself with the +masts and the rigging, with the assistance of Martin Holt, our +sailing-master, who was very clever at this kind of industry. + +On the 21st of October, Captain Len Guy said to me: + +"You shall see, Mr. Jeorling, that nothing will be neglected to ensure +the success of our enterprise. Everything that can be foreseen has been +foreseen, and if the _Halbrane_ is to perish in some catastrophe, it +will be because it is not permitted to human beings to go against +the designs of God." + +"I have good hopes, captain, as I have already said. Your vessel +and her crew are worthy of confidence. But, supposing the expedition +should be much prolonged, perhaps the supply of provisions--" + +"We shall carry sufficient for two years, and those shall be of +good quality. Port Egmont has proved capable of supplying us with +everything we require." + +"Another question, if you will allow me?" + +"Put it, Mr. Jeorling, put it." + +"Shall you not need a more numerous crew for the _Halbrane_? +Though you have men enough for the working of the ship, suppose you +find you have to attack or to defend in the Antarctic waters? Let us +not forget that, according to Arthur Pym's narrative, there were +thousands of natives on Tsalal Island, and if your brother--if his +companions are prisoners--" + +"I hope, Mr. Jeorling, our artillery will protect the _Halbrane_ +better than the _Jane_ was protected by her guns. To tell the truth, +the crew we have would not be sufficient for an expedition of this +kind. I have been arranging for recruiting our forces." + +"Will it be difficult?" + +"Yes and no; for the Governor has promised to help me." + +"I surmise, captain, that recruits will have to be attracted by +larger pay." + +"Double pay, Mr. Jeorling, and the whole crew must have the +same." + +"You know, captain, I am disposed, and, indeed, desirous to +contribute to the expenses of the expedition. Will you kindly +consider me as your partner?" + +"All that shall be arranged, Mr. Jeorling, and I am very grateful +to you. The main point is to complete our armament with the least +possible delay. We must be ready to clear out in a week." + +The news that the schooner was bound for the Antarctic seas had +produced some sensation in the Falklands, at Port Egmont, and in the +ports of La Soledad. At that season a number of unoccupied sailors +were there, awaiting the passing of the whaling-ships to offer their +services, for which they were very well paid in general. If it had +been only for a fishing campaign on the borders of the Polar +Circle, between the Sandwich Islands and New Georgia, Captain Len +Guy would have merely had to make a selection. But the projected +voyage was a very different thing; and only the old sailors of the +_Halbrane_ were entirely indifferent to the dangers of such an +enterprise, and ready to follow their chief whithersoever it might +please him to go. + +In reality it was necessary to treble the crew of the schooner. +Counting the captain, the mate, the boatswain, the cook and myself, +we were thirteen on board. Now, thirty-two or thirty-four men would +not be too many for us, and it must be remembered that there were +thirty-eight on board the _Jane_. + +In this emergency the Governor exerted himself to the utmost, and +thanks to the largely-extra pay that was offered, Captain Len Guy +procured his full tale of seamen. Nine recruits signed articles for +the duration of the campaign, which could not be fixed beforehand, +but was not to extend beyond Tsalal Island. + +The crew, counting every man on board except myself, numbered +thirty-one, and a thirty-second for whom I bespeak especial +attention. On the eve of our departure, Captain Len Guy was accosted +at the angle of the port by an individual whom he recognized as a +sailor by his clothes, his walk, and his speech. + +This individual said, in a rough and hardly intelligible voice,-- + +"Captain, I have to make a proposal to you." + +"What is it?" + +"Have you still a place?" + +"For a sailor?" + +"For a sailor." + +"Yes and no." + +"Is it yes?" + +"It is yes, if the man suits me." + +"Will you take me?" + +"You are a seaman?" + +"I have served the sea for twenty-five years." + +"Where?" + +"In the Southern Seas." + +"Far?" + +"Yes, far, far." + +"Your age?" + +"Forty-four years." + +"And you are at Port Egmont?" + +"I shall have been there three years, come Christmas." + +"Did you expect to get on a passing whale-ship?" + +"No." + +"Then what were you doing here?" + +"Nothing, and I did not think of going to sea again." + +"Then why seek a berth?" + +"Just an idea. The news of the expedition your schooner is going +on was spread. I desire, yes, I desire to take part in it--with +your leave, of course." + +"You are known at Port Egmont?" + +"Well known, and I have incurred no reproach since I came here." + +"Very well," said the captain. "I will make inquiry respecting +you." + +"Inquire, captain, and if you say yes, my bag shall be on board +this evening." + +"What is your name?" + +"Hunt." + +"And you are--?" + +"An American." + +This Hunt was a man of short stature, his weather beaten face was +brick red, his skin of a yellowish-brown like an Indian's, his +body clumsy, his head very large, his legs were bowed, his whole +frame denoted exceptional strength, especially the arms, which +terminated in huge hands. His grizzled hair resembled a kind of fur. + +A particular and anything but prepossessing character was imparted +to the physiognomy of this individual by the extraordinary keenness +of his small eyes, his almost lipless mouth, which stretched from +ear to ear, and his long teeth, which were dazzlingly white; their +enamel being intact, for he had never been attacked by scurvy, the +common scourge of seamen in high latitudes. + +Hunt had been living in the Falklands for three years; he lived +alone on a pension, no one knew from whence this was derived. He was +singularly uncommunicative, and passed his time in fishing, by which +he might have lived, not only as a matter of sustenance, but as an +article of commerce. + +The information gained by Captain Len Guy was necessarily +incomplete, as it was confined to Hunt's conduct during his +residence at Port Egmont. The man did not fight, he did not drink, +and he had given many proofs of his Herculean strength. Concerning +his past nothing was known, but undoubtedly he had been a sailor. He +had said more to Len Guy than he had ever said to anybody; but he +kept silence respecting the family to which he belonged, and the +place of his birth. This was of no importance; that he should prove +to be a good sailor was all we had to think about. Hunt obtained a +favourable reply, and came on board that same evening. + +On the 27th, in the morning, in the presence of the authorities of +the Archipelago, the _Halbrane's_ anchor was lifted, the last good +wishes and the final adieus were exchanged, and the schooner took +the sea. The same evening Capes Dolphin and Pembroke disappeared in +the mists of the horizon. + +Thus began the astonishing adventure undertaken by these brave men, +who were driven by a sentiment of humanity towards the most terrible +regions of the Antarctic realm. + + + + +CHAPTER X. +THE OUTSET OF THE ENTERPRISE. + + +Here was I, then, launched into an adventure which seemed likely to +surpass all my former experiences. Who would have believed such a +thing of me. But I was under a spell which drew me towards the +unknown, that unknown of the polar world whose secrets so many +daring pioneers had in vain essayed to penetrate. And this time, who +could tell but that the sphinx of the Antarctic regions would speak +for the first time to human ears! + +The new crew had firstly to apply themselves to learning their +several duties, and the old--all fine fellows--aided them in the +task. Although Captain Len Guy had not had much choice, he seemed to +have been in luck. These sailors, of various nationalities, +displayed zeal and good will. They were aware, also, that the mate +was a man whom it would not do to vex, for Hurliguerly had given +them to understand that West would break any man's head who did +not go straight. His chief allowed him full latitude in this respect. + +"A latitude," he added, "which is obtained by taking the +altitude of the eye with a shut fist." + +I recognized my friend the boatswain in the manner of this warning +to all whom it might concern. + +The new hands took the admonition seriously, and there was no +occasion to punish any of them. As for Hunt, while he observed the +docility of a true sailor in all his duties, he always kept himself +apart, speaking to none, and even slept on the deck, in a corner, +rather than occupy a bunk in the forecastle with the others. + +Captain Len Guy's intention was to take the Sandwich Isles for his +point of departure towards the south, after having made acquaintance +with New Georgia, distant eight hundred miles from the Falklands. +Thus the schooner would be in longitude on the route of the _Jane_. + +On the 2nd of November this course brought us to the bearings which +certain navigators have assigned to the Aurora Islands, 30° 15' +of latitude and 47° 33' of east longitude. + +Well, then, notwithstanding the affirmations--which I regarded with +suspicion--of the captains of the _Aurora_ in 1762, of the _Saint +Miguel_, in 1769, of the _Pearl_, in 1779, of the _Prinicus_ and the +_Dolores_, in 1790, of the _Atrevida_, in 1794, which gave the bearings +of the three islands of the group, we did not perceive a single +indication of land in the whole of the space traversed by us. It was +the same with regard to the alleged islands of the conceited Glass. +Not a single little islet was to be seen in the position he had +indicated, although the look-out was most carefully kept. It is to +be feared that his Excellency the Governor of Tristan d'Acunha +will never see his name figuring in geographical nomenclature. + +[Illustration: Taking in sail under difficulties.] + +It was now the 6th of November. Our passage promised to be shorter +than that of the _Jane_. We had no need to hurry, however. Our +schooner would arrive before the gates of the iceberg wall would +be open. For three days the weather caused the working of the ship +to be unusually laborious, and the new crew behaved very well; +thereupon the boatswain congratulated them. Hurliguerly bore witness +that Hunt, for all his awkward and clumsy build, was in himself worth +three men. + +"A famous recruit," said he. + +"Yes, indeed," I replied, "and gained just at the last +moment." + +"Very true, Mr. Jeorling! But what a face and head he has, that +Hunt!" + +"I have often met Americans like him in the regions of the Far +West," I answered, "and I should not be surprised if this man +had Indian blood in his veins. Do you ever talk with Hunt?" + +"Very seldom, Mr. Jeorling. He keeps himself to himself, and away +from everybody. And yet, it is not for want of mouth. I never saw +anything like his! And his hands! Have you seen his hands? Be on +your guard, Mr. Jeorling, if ever he wants to shake hands with +you." + +"Fortunately, boatswain, Hunt does not seem to be quarrelsome. He +appears to be a quiet man who does not abuse his strength." + +"No--except when he is setting a halyard. Then I am always afraid +the pulley will come down and the yard with it." + +Hunt certainly was a strange being, and I could not resist observing +him with curiosity, especially as it struck me that he regarded me +at times with a curious intentness. + +On the 10th of November, at about two in the afternoon, the look-out +shouted,-- + +"Land ahead, starboard!" + +An observation had just given 55° 7' latitude and 41° 13' +longitude. This land could only be the Isle de Saint Pierre--its +British names are South Georgia, New Georgia, and King George's +Island--and it belongs to the circumpolar regions. + +It was discovered by the Frenchman, Barbe, in 1675, before Cook; +but, although he came in second, the celebrated navigator gave it +the series of names which it still bears. + +The schooner took the direction of this island, whose snow-clad +heights--formidable masses of ancient rock--rise to an immense +altitude through the yellow fogs of the surrounding space. + +New Georgia, situated within five hundred leagues of Magellan +Straits, belongs to the administrative domain of the Falklands. The +British administration is not represented there by anyone, the +island is not inhabited, although it is habitable, at least in the +summer season. + +On the following day, while the men were gone in search of water, I +walked about in the vicinity of the bay. The place was an utter +desert, for the period at which sealing is pursued there had not +arrived. New Georgia, being exposed to the direct action of the +Antarctic polar current, is freely frequented by marine mammals. I +saw several droves of these creatures on the rocks, the strand, and +within the rock grottoes of the coast. Whole "smalas" of +penguins, standing motionless in interminable rows, brayed their +protest against the invasion of an intruder--I allude to myself. + +Innumerable larks flew over the surface of the waters and the sands; +their song awoke my memory of lands more favoured by nature. It is +fortunate that these birds do not want branches to perch on; for +there does not exist a tree in New Georgia. Here and there I found a +few phanerogams, some pale-coloured mosses, and especially tussock +grass in such abundance that numerous herds of cattle might be fed +upon the island. + +On the 12th November the _Halbrane_ sailed once more, and having +doubled Charlotte Point at the extremity of Royal Bay, she headed in +the direction of the Sandwich Islands, four hundred miles from +thence. + +So far we had not encountered floating ice. The reason was that the +summer sun had not detached any, either from the icebergs or the +southern lands. Later on, the current would draw them to the height +of the fiftieth parallel, which, in the southern hemisphere, is that +of Paris or Quebec. But we were much impeded by huge banks of fog +which frequently shut out the horizon. Nevertheless, as these waters +presented no danger, and there was nothing to fear from ice packs or +drifting icebergs, the _Halbrane_ was able to pursue her route towards +the Sandwich Islands comfortably enough. Great flocks of clangorous +birds, breasting the wind and hardly moving their wings, passed us +in the midst of the fogs, petrels, divers, halcyons, and albatross, +bound landwards, as though to show us the way. + +Owing, no doubt, to these mists, we were unable to discern Traversey +Island. Captain Len Guy, however, thought some vague streaks of +intermittent light which were perceived in the night, between the +14th and 15th, probably proceeded from a volcano which might be that +of Traversey, as the crater frequently emits flames. + +On the 17th November the schooner reached the Archipelago to which +Cook gave the name of Southern Thule in the first instance, as it +was the most southern land that had been discovered at that period. +He afterwards baptized it Sandwich Isles. + +James West repaired to Thule in the large boat, in order to explore +the approachable points, while Captain Len Guy and I descended on +the Bristol strand. + +We found absolutely desolate country; the only inhabitants were +melancholy birds of Antarctic species. Mosses and lichens cover the +nakedness of an unproductive soil. Behind the beach a few firs rise +to a considerable height on the bare hill-sides, from whence great +masses occasionally come crashing down with a thundering sound. +Awful solitude reigns everywhere. There was nothing to attest the +passage of any human being, or the presence of any shipwrecked +persons on Bristol Island. + +West's exploration at Thule produced a precisely similar result. A +few shots fired from our schooner had no effect but to drive away +the crowd of petrels and divers, and to startle the rows of stupid +penguins on the beach. + +While Captain Len Guy and I were walking, I said to him,-- + +"You know, of course, what Cook's opinion on the subject of the +Sandwich group was when he discovered it. At first he believed he +had set foot upon a continent. According to him, the mountains of +ice carried out of the Antarctic Sea by the drift were detached from +that continent. He recognized afterwards that the Sandwiches only +formed an Archipelago, but, nevertheless, his belief that a polar +continent farther south exists, remained firm and unchanged." + +"I know that is so, Mr. Jeorling," replied the captain, "but +if such a continent exists, we must conclude that there is a great +gap in its coast, and that Weddell and my brother each got in by +that gap at six years' interval. That our great navigator had not +the luck to discover this passage is easy to explain; he stopped at +the seventy-first parallel! But others found it after Captain Cook, +and others will find it again." + +"And we shall be of the number, captain." + +"Yes--with the help of God! Cook did not hesitate to assert that +no one would ever venture farther than he had gone, and that the +Antarctic lands, if any such existed, would never be seen, but the +future will prove that he was mistaken. They have been seen so far +as the eighty-fourth degree of latitude--" + +"And who knows," said I, "perhaps beyond that, by Arthur +Pym." + +"Perhaps, Mr. Jeorling. It is true that we have not to trouble +ourselves about Arthur Pym, since he, at least, and Dirk Peters +also, returned to America." + +"But--supposing he did not return?" + +"I consider that we have not to face that eventuality," replied +Captain Len Guy. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. +FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS TO THE POLAR CIRCLE. + + +The _Halbrane_, singularly favoured by the weather, sighted the New +South Orkneys group in six days after she had sailed from the +Sandwich Islands. This archipelago was discovered by Palmer, an +American, and Bothwell, an Englishman, jointly, in 1821-22. Crossed +by the sixty-first parallel, it is comprehended between the +forty-fourth and the forty-seventh meridian. + +On approaching, we were enabled to observe contorted masses and +steep cliffs on the north side, which became less rugged as they +neared the coast, at whose edge lay enormous ice-floes, heaped +together in formidable confusion; these, before two months should +have expired, would be drifted towards the temperate waters. At that +season the whaling ships would appear to carry on the taking of the +great blowing creatures, while some of their crews would remain on +the islands to capture seals and sea-elephants. + +In order to avoid the strait, which was encumbered with islets and +ice-floes, Captain Len Guy first cast anchor at the south-eastern +extremity of Laurie Island, where he passed the day on the 24th; +then, having rounded Cape Dundas, he sailed along the southern coast +of Coronation Island, where the schooner anchored on the 25th. Our +close and careful researches produced no result as regarded the +sailors of the _Jane_. + +The islands and islets were peopled by multitudes of birds. Without +taking the penguins into account, those guano-covered rocks were +crowded with white pigeons, a species of which I had already seen +some specimens. These birds have rather short, conical beaks, and +red-rimmed eyelids; they can be knocked over with little difficulty. +As for the vegetable kingdom in the New South Orkneys, it is +represented only by grey lichen and some scanty seaweeds. Mussels +are found in great abundance all along the rocks; of these we +procured an ample supply. + +The boatswain and his men did not lose the opportunity of killing +several dozens of penguins with their sticks, not from a ruthless +instinct of destruction, but from the legitimate desire to procure +fresh food. + +"Their flesh is just as good as chicken, Mr. Jeorling," said +Hurliguerly. "Did you not eat penguin at the Kerguelens?" + +"Yes, boatswain, but it was cooked by Atkins." + +"Very well, then; it will be cooked by Endicott here, and you will +not know the difference." + +And in fact we in the saloon, like the men in the forecastle, were +regaled with penguin, and acknowledged the merits of our excellent +sea-cook. + +The _Halbrane_ sailed on the 26th of November, at six o'clock in the +morning, heading south. She reascended the forty-third meridian; +this we were able to ascertain very exactly by a good observation. +This route it was that Weddell and then William Guy had followed, +and, provided the schooner did not deflect either to the east or the +west, she must inevitably come to Tsalal Island. The difficulties of +navigation had to be taken into account, of course. + +The wind, continuing to blow steadily from the west, was in our +favour, and if the present speed of the _Halbrane_ could be +maintained, as I ventured to suggest to Captain Len Guy, the voyage +from the South Orkneys to the Polar Circle would be a short one. +Beyond, as I knew, we should have to force the gate of the thick +barrier of icebergs, or to discover a breach in that ice-fortress. + +"So that, in less than a month, captain--" I suggested, +tentatively. + +"In less than a month I hope to have found the iceless sea which +Weddell and Arthur Pym describe so fully, beyond the ice-wall, and +thenceforth we need only sail on under ordinary conditions to Bennet +Island in the first place, and afterwards to Tsalal Island. Once on +that ‘wide open sea,' what obstacle could arrest or even retard +our progress?" + +"I can foresee none, captain, so soon as we shall get to the back +of the ice-wall. The passage through is the difficult point; it must +be our chief source of anxiety, and if only the wind holds--" + +"It will hold, Mr. Jeorling. All the navigators of the austral +seas have been able to ascertain, as I myself have done, the +permanence of this wind." + +"That is true, and I rejoice in the assurance, captain. Besides, I +acknowledge, without shrinking from the admission, that I am +beginning to be superstitious." + +"And why not, Mr. Jeorling? What is there unreasonable in +admitting the intervention of a supernatural power in the most +ordinary circumstances of life? And we, who sail the _Halbrane_, +should we venture to doubt it? Recall to your mind our meeting with +the unfortunate Patterson on our ship's course, the fragment of +ice carried into the waters where we were, and dissolved immediately +afterwards. Were not these facts providential? Nay, I go farther +still, and am sure that, after having done so much to guide us +towards our compatriots, God will not abandon us--" + +"I think as you think, captain. No, His intervention is not to be +denied, and I do not believe that chance plays the part assigned to +it by superficial minds upon the stage of human life. All the facts +are united by a mysterious chain." + +"A chain, Mr. Jeorling, whose first link, so far as we are +concerned, is Patterson's ice-block, and whose last will be Tsalal +Island. Ah! My brother! my poor brother! Left there for eleven +years, with his companions in misery, without being able to +entertain the hope that succour ever could reach them! And Patterson +carried far away from them, under we know not what conditions, they +not knowing what had become of him! If my heart is sick when I think +of these catastrophes, Mr. Jeorling, at least it will not fail me +unless it be at the moment when my brother throws himself into my +arms." + +So then we two were agreed in our trust in Providence. It had been +made plain to us in a manifest fashion that God had entrusted us +with a mission, and we would do all that might be humanly possible +to accomplish it. + +The schooner's crew, I ought to mention, were animated by the like +sentiments, and shared the same hopes. I allude to the original +seamen who were so devoted to their captain. As for the new ones, +they were probably indifferent to the result of the enterprise, +provided it should secure the profits promised to them by their +engagement. + +At least, I was assured by the boatswain that such was the case, but +with the exception of Hunt. This man had apparently not been induced +to take service by the bribe of high wages or prize money. He was +absolutely silent on that and every other subject. + +"If he does not speak to you, boatswain," I said, "neither +does he speak to me." + +"Do you know, Mr. Jeorling, what it is my notion that man has +already done?" + +"Tell me, Hurliguerly." + +"Well, then, I believe he has gone far, far into the southern +seas, let him be as dumb as a fish about it. Why he _is_ dumb is his +own affair. But if that sea-hog of a man has not been inside the +Antarctic Circle and even the ice wall by a good dozen degrees, may +the first sea we ship carry me overboard." + +"From what do you judge, boatswain?" + +"From his eyes, Mr. Jeorling, from his eyes. No matter at what +moment, let the ship's head be as it may, those eyes of his are +always on the south, open, unwinking, fixed like guns in position." + +Hurliguerly did not exaggerate, and I had already remarked this. To +employ an expression of Edgar Poe's, Hunt had eyes like a +falcon's. + +"When he is not on the watch," resumed the boatswain, "that +savage leans all the time with his elbows on the side, as motionless +as he is mute. His right place would be at the end of our bow, where +he would do for a figurehead to the _Halbrane_, and a very ugly one at +that! And then, when he is at the helm, Mr. Jeorling, just observe +him! His enormous hands clutch the handles as though they were +fastened to the wheel; he gazes at the binnacle as though the magnet +of the compass were drawing his eyes. I pride myself on being a good +steersman, but as for being the equal of Hunt, I'm not! With him, +not for an instant does the needle vary from the sailing-line, +however rough a lurch she may give. I am sure that if the binnacle +lamp were to go out in the night Hunt would not require to relight +it. The fire in his eyes would light up the dial and keep him +right." + +For several days our navigation went on in unbroken monotony, +without a single incident, and under favourable conditions. The +spring season was advancing, and whales began to make their +appearance in large numbers. + +In these waters a week would suffice for ships of heavy tonnage to +fill their casks with the precious oil. Thus the new men of the +crew, and especially the Americans, did not conceal their regret for +the captain's indifference in the presence of so many animals +worth their weight in gold, and more abundant than they had ever +seen whales at that period of the year. The leading malcontent was +Hearne, a sealing-master, to whom his companions were ready to +listen. He had found it easy to get the upper hand of the other +sailors by his rough manner and the surly audacity that was +expressed by his whole personality. Hearne was an American, and +forty-five years of age. He was an active, vigorous man, and I could +see him in my mind's eye, standing up on his double bowed +whaling-boat brandishing the harpoon, darting it into the flank of a +whale, and paying out the rope. He must have been fine to see. +Granted his passion for this business, I could not be surprised that +his discontent showed itself upon occasion. + +In any case, however, our schooner was not fitted out for fishing, and +the implements of whaling were not on board. + +One day, about three o'clock in the afternoon, I had gone forward +to watch the gambols of a "school" of the huge sea mammals. +Hearne was pointing them out to his companions, and muttering in +disjointed phrases,-- + +"There, look there! That's a fin-back! There's another, and +another; three of them with their dorsal fins five or six feet high. +Just see them swimming between two waves, quietly, making no jumps. +Ah! if I had a harpoon, I bet my head that I could send it into one +of the four yellow spots they have on their bodies. But there's +nothing to be done in this traffic-box; one cannot stretch one's +arms. Devil take it! In these seas it is fishing we ought to be at, +not--" + +Then, stopping short, he swore a few oaths, and cried out, "And +that other whale!" + +"The one with a hump like a dromedary?" asked a sailor. + +"Yes. It is a humpback," replied Hearne. "Do you make out its +wrinkled belly, and also its long dorsal fin? They're not easy to +take, those humpbacks, for they go down into great depths and devour +long reaches of your lines. Truly, we deserve that he should give us +a switch of his tail on our side, since we don't send a harpoon +into his." + +[Illustration: "There, look there! That's a fin-back!"] + +"Look out! Look out!" shouted the boatswain. This was not to +warn us that we were in danger of receiving the formidable stroke of +the humpback's tail which the sealing-master had wished us. No, an +enormous blower had come alongside the schooner, and almost on the +instant a spout of ill-smelling water was ejected from its blow-hole +with a noise like a distant roar of artillery. The whole foredeck to +the main hatch was inundated. + +"That's well done!" growled Hearne, shrugging his shoulders, +while his companions shook themselves and cursed the humpback. + +Besides these two kinds of cetacea we had observed several +right-whales, and these are the most usually met with in the +southern seas. They have no fins, and their blubber is very thick. +The taking of these fat monsters of the deep is not attended with +much danger. The right-whales are vigorously pursued in the southern +seas, where the little shell fish called "whales' food" +abound. The whales subsist entirely upon these small crustaceans. + +Presently, one of these right-whales, measuring sixty feet in +length--that is to say, the animal was the equivalent of a hundred +barrels of oil--was seen floating within three cables' lengths of +the schooner. + +"Yes! that's a right-whale," exclaimed Hearne. "You might +tell it by its thick, short spout. See, that one on the port side, +like a column of smoke, that's the spout of a right-whale! And all +this is passing before our very noses---a dead loss! Why, it's +like emptying money-bags into the sea not to fill one's barrels +when one can. A nice sort of captain, indeed, to let all this +merchandise be lost, and do such wrong to his crew!" + +"Hearne," said an imperious voice, "go up to the maintop. You +will be more at your ease there to reckon the whales." + +"But, sir--" + +"No reply, or I'll keep you up there until to-morrow. Come--be +off at once." + +And as he would have got the worst of an attempt at resistance, the +sealing-master obeyed in silence. + +The season must have been abnormally advanced, for although we +continued to see a vast number of testaceans, we did not catch sight +of a single whaling-ship in all this fishing-ground. + +I hasten to state that, although we were not to be tempted by +whales, no other fishing was forbidden on board the _Halbrane_, and +our daily bill of fare profited by the boatswain's trawling lines, +to the extreme satisfaction of stomachs weary of salt meat. Our +lines brought us goby, salmon, cod, mackerel, conger, mullet, and +parrot-fish. + +The birds which we saw, and which came from every point of the +horizon, were those I have already mentioned, petrels, divers, +halcyons, and pigeons in countless flocks. I also saw--but beyond +aim--a giant petrel; its dimensions were truly astonishing. This +was one of those called "quebrantahnesos" by the Spaniards. This +bird of the Magellanian waters is very remarkable; its curved and +slender wings have a span of from thirteen to fourteen feet, equal +to that of the wings of the great albatross. Nor is the latter +wanting among these powerful winged creatures; we saw the +dusky-plumed albatross of the cold latitudes, sweeping towards the +glacial zone. + +On the 30th of November, after observation taken at noon, it was +found that we had reached 66° 23' 3" of latitude. + +The _Halbrane_ had then crossed the Polar Circle which circumscribes +the area of the Antarctic zone. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. +BETWEEN THE POLAR CIRCLE AND THE ICE WALL. + + +Since the _Halbrane_ has passed beyond the imaginary curve drawn at +twenty-three and a half degrees from the Pole, it seems as though +she had entered a new region, "that region of Desolation and +Silence," as Edgar Poe says; that magic person of splendour and +glory in which the _Eleanora's_ singer longed to be shut up to all +eternity; that immense ocean of light ineffable. + +It is my belief--to return to less fanciful hypotheses--that the +Antarctic region, with a superficies of more than five millions of +square miles, has remained what our spheroid was during the glacial +period. In the summer, the southern zone, as we all know, enjoys +perpetual day, owing to the rays projected by the orb of light above +its horizon in his spiral ascent. Then, so soon as he has +disappeared, the long night sets in, a night which is frequently +illumined by the polar aurora or Northern Lights. + +It was then in the season of light that our schooner was about to +sail in these formidable regions. The permanent brightness would not +fail us before we should have reached Tsalal Island, where we felt +no doubt of finding the men of the _Jane_. + +When Captain Len Guy, West, and the old sailors of the crew learned +that the schooner had cleared the sixty-sixth parallel of latitude, +their rough and sunburnt faces shone with satisfaction. The next +day, Hurliguerly accosted me on the deck with a broad smile and a +cheerful manner. + +"So then, Mr. Jeorling," said he, "we've left the famous +‘Circle' behind us!" + +"Not far enough, boatswain, not far enough!" + +"Oh, that will come! But I am disappointed." + +"In what way?" + +"Because we have not done what is usual on board ships on +crossing the Line!" + +"You regret that?" + +"Certainly I do, and the _Halbrane_ might have been allowed the +ceremony of a southern baptism." + +"A baptism? And whom would you have baptized, boatswain, seeing +that all our men, like yourself, have already sailed beyond this +parallel?" + +"We! Oh, yes! But you! Oh, no, Mr. Jeorling. And why, may I ask, +should not that ceremony be performed in your honour?" + +"True, boatswain; this is the first time in the course of my +travels that I have been in so high a latitude." + +"And you should have been rewarded by a baptism, Mr. Jeorling. +Yes, indeed, but without any big fuss--no drum and trumpet about +it, and leaving out old Father Neptune with his masquerade. If you +would permit me to baptize you--" + +"So be it, Hurliguerly," said I, putting my hand into my pocket. +"Baptize as you please. Here is something to drink my health with at +the nearest tavern." + +"Then that will be Bennet Islet or Tsalal Island, provided there +are any taverns in those savage islands, and any Atkinses to keep +them." + +"Tell me, boatswain--I always get back to Hunt--does he seem so +much pleased to have passed the Polar Circle as the _Halbrane's_ old +sailors are?" + +"Who knows? There's nothing to be got out of him one way or +another. But, as I have said before, if he has not already made +acquaintance with the ice-barrier." + +"What makes you think so?" + +"Everything and nothing, Mr. Jeorling. One feels these things; one +doesn't think them. Hunt is an old sea-dog, who has carried his +canvas bag into every corner of the world." + +The boatswain's opinion was mine also, and some inexplicable +presentiment made me observe Hunt constantly, for he occupied a +large share of my thoughts. + +Early in December the wind showed a north-west tendency, and that +was not good for us, but we would have no serious right to complain +so long as it did not blow due south-west. In the latter case the +schooner would have been thrown out of her course, or at least she +would have had a struggle to keep in it, and it was better for us, +in short, not to stray from the meridian which we had followed since +our departure from the New South Orkneys. Captain Len Guy was made +anxious by this alteration in the wind, and besides, the speed of +the _Halbrane_ was manifestly lessened, for the breeze began to soften +on the 4th, and in the middle of the night it died away. + +In the morning the sails hung motionless and shrivelled along the +masts. Although not a breath reached us, and the surface of the +ocean was unruffled, the schooner was rocked from side to side by +the long oscillations of the swell coming from the west. + +"The sea feels something," said Captain Len Guy to me, "and +there must be rough weather on that side," he added, pointing +westward. + +"The horizon is misty," I replied; "but perhaps the sun +towards noon--" + +"The sun has no strength in this latitude, Mr. Jeorling, not even +in summer. Jem!" + +West came up to us. + +"What do you think of the sky?" + +"I do not think well of it. We must be ready for anything and +everything, captain." + +"Has not the look-out given warning of the first drifting ice?" +I asked. + +"Yes," replied Captain Len Guy, "and if we get near the +icebergs the damage will not be to them. Therefore, if prudence +demands that we should go either to the east or to the west, we +shall resign ourselves, but only in case of absolute necessity." + +The watch had made no mistake. In the afternoon we sighted masses, +islets they might be called, of ice, drifting slowly southward, but +these were not yet of considerable extent or altitude. These packs +were easy to avoid; they could not interfere with the sailing of the +_Halbrane_. But, although the wind had hitherto permitted her to keep +on her course, she was not advancing, and it was exceedingly +disagreeable to be rolling about in a rough and hollow sea which +struck our ship's sides most unpleasantly. + +About two o'clock it was blowing a hurricane from all the points +of the compass. The schooner was terribly knocked about, and the +boatswain had the deck cleared of everything that was movable by her +rolling and pitching. + +Fortunately, the cargo could not be displaced, the stowage having +been effected with perfect forecast of nautical eventualities. We +had not to dread the fate of the _Grampus_, which was lost owing to +negligence in her lading. It will be remembered that the brig turned +bottom upwards, and that Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters remained for +several days crouching on its keel. + +Besides, the schooner's pumps did not give a drop of water; the +ship was perfectly sound in every part, owing to the efficient +repairs that had been done during our stay at the Falklands. The +temperature had fallen rapidly, and hail, rain, and snow thickened +and darkened the air. At ten o'clock in the evening--I must use +this word, although the sun remained always above the horizon--the +tempest increased, and the captain and his lieutenant, almost unable +to hear each other's voices amid the elemental strife, communicated +mostly by gestures, which is as good a mode as speech between sailors. + +I could not make up my mind to retire to my cabin, and, seeking the +shelter of the roundhouse, I remained on deck, observing the weather +phenomena, and the skill, certainty, celerity, and effect with which +the crew carried out the orders of the captain and West. It was a +strange and terrible experience for a landsman, even one who had +seen so much of the sea and seamanship as I had. At the moment of a +certain difficult manoeuvre, four men had to climb to the crossbars +of the fore-mast in order to reef the mainsail. The first who sprang +to the ratlines was Hunt. The second was Martin Holt; Burry and one +of the recruits followed them. I could not have believed that any +man could display such skill and agility as Hunt's. His hands and +feet hardly caught the ratlines. Having reached the crossbars first, +he stretched himself on the ropes to the end of the yard, while Holt +went to the other end, and the two recruits remained in the middle. + +While the men were working, and the tempest was raging round us, a +terrific lurch of the ship to starboard under the stroke of a +mountainous wave, flung everything on the deck into wild confusion, +and the sea rushed in through the scupper-holes. I was knocked down, +and for some moments was unable to rise. + +So great had been the incline of the schooner that the end of the +yard of the mainsail was plunged three or four feet into the crest +of a wave. When it emerged Martin Holt, who had been astride on it, +had disappeared. A cry was heard, uttered by the sailing-master, +whose arm could be seen wildly waving amid the whiteness of the +foam. The sailors rushed to the side and flung out one a rope, +another a cask, a third a spar--in short, any object of which +Martin Holt might lay hold. At the moment when I struggled up to my +feet I caught sight of a massive substance which cleft the air and +vanished in the whirl of the waves. + +Was this a second accident? No! it was a voluntary action, a deed of +self-sacrifice. Having finished his task, Hunt had thrown himself +into the sea, that he might save Martin Holt. + +"Two men overboard!" + +Yes, two--one to save the other. And were they not about to perish +together? + +The two heads rose to the foaming surface of the water. Hunt was +swimming vigorously, cutting through the waves, and was nearing +Martin Holt. + +[Illustration: Hunt to the rescue.] + +"They are lost! both lost!" exclaimed the captain. "The boat, +West, the boat!" + +"If you give the order to lower it," answered West, "I will be +the first to get into it, although at the risk of my life. But I +must have the order." + +In unspeakable suspense the ship's crew and myself had witnessed +this scene. None thought of the position of the _Halbrane_, which was +sufficiently dangerous; all eyes were fixed upon the terrible waves. +Now fresh cries, the frantic cheers of the crew, rose above the roar +of the elements. Hunt had reached the drowning man just as he sank +out of sight, had seized hold of him, and was supporting him with +his left arm, while Holt, incapable of movement, swayed helplessly +about like a weed. With the other arm Hunt was swimming bravely and +making way towards the schooner. + +A minute, which seemed endless, passed. The two men, the one +dragging the other, were hardly to be distinguished in the midst of +the surging waves. + +At last Hunt reached the schooner, and caught one of the lines +hanging over the side. + +In a minute Hunt and Martin Holt were hoisted on board; the latter +was laid down at the foot of the fore-mast, and the former was quite +ready to go to his work. Holt was speedily restored by the aid of +vigorous rubbing; his senses came back, and he opened his eyes. + +"Martin Holt," said Captain Len Guy, who was leaning over him, +"you have been brought back from very far--" + +"Yes, yes, captain," answered Holt, as he looked about him with +a searching gaze, "but who saved me?" + +"Hunt," cried the boatswain, "Hunt risked his life for you." + +As the latter was hanging back, Hurliguerly pushed him towards +Martin Holt, whose eyes expressed the liveliest gratitude. + +"Hunt," said he, "you have saved me. But for you I should have +been lost. I thank you." + +Hunt made no reply. + +"Hunt," resumed Captain Len Guy, "don't you hear?" + +The man seemed not to have heard. + +"Hunt," said Martin Holt again, "come near to me. I thank you. +I want to shake hands with you." + +And he held out his right hand. Hunt stepped back a few paces, +shaking his head with the air of a man who did not want so many +compliments for a thing so simple, and quietly walked forward to +join his shipmates, who were working vigorously under the orders of +West. + +Decidedly, this man was a hero in courage and self-devotion; but +equally decidedly he was a being impervious to impressions, and not +on that day either was the boatswain destined to know "the colour +of his words!" + +For three whole days, the 6th, 7th, and 8th of December, the tempest +raged in these waters, accompanied by snow storms which perceptibly +lowered the temperature. It is needless to say that Captain Len Guy +proved himself a true seaman, that James West had an eye to +everything, that the crew seconded them loyally, and that Hunt was +always foremost when there was work to be done or danger to be +incurred. + +In truth, I do not know how to give an idea of this man! What a +difference there was between him and most of the sailors recruited +at the Falklands, and especially between him and Hearne, the +sealing-master! They obeyed, no doubt, for such a master as James +West gets himself obeyed, whether with good or ill will. But behind +backs what complaints were made, what recriminations were exchanged! +All this, I feared, was of evil presage for the future. + +Martin Holt had been able to resume his duties very soon, and he +fulfilled them with hearty good-will. He knew the business of a +sailor right well, and was the only man on board who could compete +with Hunt in handiness and zeal. + +"Well, Holt," said I to him one day when he was talking with the +boatswain, "what terms are you on with that queer fellow Hunt now? +Since the salvage affair, is he a little more communicative?" + +"No, Mr. Jeorling, and I think he even tries to avoid me." + +"To avoid you?" + +"Well, he did so before, for that matter." + +"Yes, indeed, that is true," added Hurliguerly; "I have made +the same remark more than once." + +"Then he keeps aloof from you, Holt, as from the others?" + +"From me more than from the others." + +"What is the meaning of that?" + +"I don't know, Mr. Jeorling." + +I was surprised at what the two men had said, but a little +observation convinced me that Hunt actually did avoid every occasion +of coming in contact with Martin Holt. Did he not think that he had +a right to Holt's gratitude although the latter owed his life to +him? This man's conduct was certainly very strange. + +In the early morning of the 9th the wind showed a tendency to change +in the direction of the east, which would mean more manageable +weather for us. And, in fact, although the sea still remained rough, +at about two in the morning it became feasible to put on more sail +without risk, and thus the _Halbrane_ regained the course from which +she had been driven by the prolonged tempest. + +In that portion of the Antarctic sea the ice-packs were more +numerous, and there was reason to believe that the tempest, by +hastening the smash-up, had broken the barrier of the iceberg wall +towards the east. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. +ALONG THE FRONT OF THE ICEBERGS. + + +Although the seas beyond the Polar Circle were wildly tumultuous, it +is but just to acknowledge that our navigation had been accomplished +so far under exceptional conditions. And what good luck it would be +if the _Halbrane_, in this first fortnight of December, were to find +the Weddell route open! + +There! I am talking of the Weddell route as though it were a +macadamized road, well kept, with mile-stones and "This way to the +South Pole" on a signpost! + +The numerous wandering masses of ice gave our men no trouble; they +were easily avoided. It seemed likely that no real difficulties +would arise until the schooner should have to try to make a passage +for herself through the icebergs. + +Besides, there was no surprise to be feared. The presence of ice was +indicated by a yellowish tint in the atmosphere, which the whalers +called "blink." This is a phenomenon peculiar to the glacial +zones which never deceives the observer. + +For five successive days the _Halbrane_ sailed without sustaining any +damage, without having, even for a moment, had to fear a collision. +It is true that in proportion as she advanced towards the south the +number of ice-packs increased and the channels became narrower. On +the 14th an observation gave us 72° 37' for latitude, our +longitude remaining the same, between the forty-second and the +forty-third meridian. This was already a point beyond the Antarctic +Circle that few navigators had been able to reach. We were at only +two degrees lower than Weddell. + +The navigation of the schooner naturally became a more delicate +matter in the midst of those dim, wan masses soiled with the excreta +of birds. Many of them had a leprous look: compared with their +already considerable volume, how small our little ship, over whose +mast some of the icebergs already towered, must have appeared! + +Captain Len Guy admirably combined boldness and prudence in his +command of his ship. He never passed to leeward of an iceberg, if +the distance did not guarantee the success of any manoeuvre +whatsoever that might suddenly become necessary. He was familiar +with all the contingencies of ice-navigation, and was not afraid to +venture into the midst of these flotillas of drifts and packs. That +day he said to me,-- + +"Mr. Jeorling, this is not the first time that I have tried to +penetrate into the Polar Sea, and without success. Well, if I made +the attempt to do this when I had nothing but presumption as to the +fate of the _Jane_ to go upon, what shall I not do now that +presumption is changed into certainty?" + +"I understand that, captain, and of course your experience of +navigation in these waters must increase our chances of success." + +"Undoubtedly. Nevertheless, all that lies beyond the fixed +icebergs is still the Unknown for me, as it is for other +navigators." + +"The Unknown! No, not absolutely, captain, since we possess the +important reports of Weddell, and, I must add, of Arthur Pym also." + +"Yes, I know; they have spoken of the open sea." + +"Do you not believe that such a sea exists?" + +"Yes, I do believe that it exists, and for valid reasons. In fact, +it is perfectly manifest that these masses, called icebergs and +ice-fields, could not be formed in the ocean itself. It is the +tremendous and irresistible action of the surge which detaches them +from the continents or islands of the high latitudes. Then the +currents carry them into less cold waters, where their edges are +worn by the waves, while the temperature disintegrates their bases +and their sides, which are subjected to thermometric influences." + +"That seems very plain," I replied. "Then these masses have +come from the icebergs.(1) They clash with them in drifting, +sometimes break into the main body, and clear their passage through. +Again, we must not judge the southern by the northern zone. The +conditions are not identical. Cook has recorded that he never met +the equivalent of the Antarctic ice mountains in the Greenland seas, +even at a higher latitude." + +"What is the reason?" I asked. + +"No doubt that the influence of the south winds is predominant in +the northern regions. Now, those winds do not reach the northern +regions until they have been heated in their passage over America, +Asia, and Europe, and they contribute to raise the temperature of +the atmosphere. The nearest land, ending in the points of the Cape +of Good Hope, Patagonia, and Tasmania, does not modify the +atmospheric currents." + +"That is an important observation, captain, and it justifies your +opinion with regard to an open sea." + +"Yes, open--at least, for ten degrees behind the icebergs. Let us +then only get through that obstacle, and our greatest difficulty +will have been conquered. You were right in saying that the +existence of that open sea has been formally recognized by +Weddell." + +"And by Arthur Pym, captain." + +"And by Arthur Pym." + +From the 15th of December the difficulties of navigation increased +with the number of the drifting masses. The wind, however, continued +to be uniformly favourable, showing no tendency to veer to the +south. The breeze freshened now and then, and we had to take in +sail. When this occurred we saw the sea foaming along the sides of +the ice packs, covering them with spray like the rocks on the coast +of a floating island, but without hindering their onward march. + +Our crew could not fail to be impressed by the sight of the +schooner making her way through these moving masses; the new men +among them, at least, for the old hands had seen such manoeuvres +before. But they soon became accustomed to it, and took it all for +granted. + +It was necessary to organize the look-out ahead with the greatest +care. West had a cask fixed at the head of the foremast--what is +called a crow's-nest--and from thence an unremitting watch was +kept. + +The 16th was a day of excessive fatigue to the men. The packs and +drifts were so close that only very narrow and winding passage-way +between them was to be found, so that the working of the ship was +more than commonly laborious. + +Under these circumstances, none of the men grumbled, but Hunt +distinguished himself by his activity. Indeed, he was admitted by +Captain Len Guy and the crew to be an incomparable seaman. But there +was something mysterious about him that excited the curiosity of +them all. + +At this date the _Halbrane_ could not be very far from the icebergs. +If she held on in her course in that direction she would certainly +reach them before long, and would then have only to seek for a +passage. Hitherto, however, the look-out had not been able to make +out between the icebergs an unbroken crest of ice beyond the +ice-fields. + +Constant and minute precautions were indispensable all day on the +16th, for the helm, which was loosened by merciless blows and bumps, +was in danger of being unshipped. + +The sea mammals had not forsaken these seas. Whales were seen in +great numbers, and it was a fairy-like spectacle when several of +them spouted simultaneously. With fin-backs and hump-backs, +porpoises of colossal size appeared, and these Hearne harpooned +cleverly when they came within range. The flesh of these creatures +was much relished on board, after Endicott had cooked it in his best +manner. + +As for the usual Antarctic birds, petrels, pigeons, and cormorants, +they passed in screaming flocks, and legions of penguins, ranged +along the edges of the ice-fields, watched the evolutions of the +schooner. These penguins are the real inhabitants of these dismal +solitudes, and nature could not have created a type more suited to +the desolation of the glacial zone. + +On the morning of the 17th the man in the crow's-nest at last +signalled the icebergs. + +Five or six miles to the south a long dentated crest upreared +itself, plainly standing out against the fairly clear sky, and all +along it drifted thousands of ice-packs. This motionless barrier +stretched before us from the north-west to the south-east, and by +merely sailing along it the schooner would still gain some degrees +southwards. + +When the _Halbrane_ was within three miles of the icebergs, she lay-to +in the middle of a wide basin which allowed her complete freedom of +movement. + +A boat was lowered, and Captain Len Guy got into it, with the +boatswain, four sailors at the oars, and one at the helm. The boat +was pulled in the direction of the enormous rampart, vain search was +made for a channel through which the schooner could have slipped, +and after three hours of this fatiguing reconnoitring, the men +returned to the ship. Then came a squall of rain and snow which +caused the temperature to fall to thirty-six degrees (2°22 C. +above zero), and shut out the view of the ice-rampart from us. + +During the next twenty-four hours the schooner lay within four miles +of the icebergs. To bring her nearer would have been to get among +winding channels from which it might not have been possible to +extricate her. Not that Captain Len Guy did not long to do this, in +his fear of passing some opening unperceived. + +"If I had a consort," he said, "I would sail closer along the +icebergs, and it is a great advantage to be two, when one is on such +an enterprise as this! But the _Halbrane_ is alone, and if she were to +fail us--" + +[Illustration: Four sailors at the oars, and one at the helm.] + +Even though we approached no nearer to the icebergs than prudence +permitted, our ship was exposed to great risk, and West was +constantly obliged to change his trim in order to avoid the shock of +an icefield. + +Fortunately, the wind blew from east to north-nor'-east without +variation, and it did not freshen. Had a tempest arisen I know not +what would have become of the schooner--yes, though, I do know too +well: she would have been lost and all on board of her. In such a +case the _Halbrane_ could not have escaped; we must have been flung on +the base of the barrier. + +After a long examination Captain Len Guy had to renounce the hope +of finding a passage through the terrible wall of ice. It remained +only to endeavour to reach the south-east point of it. At any rate, +by following that course we lost nothing in latitude; and, in fact, +on the 18th the observation taken made the seventy-third parallel +the position of the _Halbrane_. + +I must repeat, however, that navigation in the Antarctic seas will +probably never be accomplished under more felicitous +circumstances--the precocity of the summer season, the permanence +of the north wind, the temperature forty-nine degrees at the lowest; +all this was the best of good-fortune. I need not add that we +enjoyed perpetual light, and the whole twenty-four hours round the +sun's rays reached us from every point of the horizon. + +Two or three times the captain approached within two miles of the +icebergs. It was impossible but that the vast mass must have been +subjected to climateric influences; ruptures must surely have taken +place at some points. + +But his search had no result, and we had to fall back into the +current from west to east. + +I must observe at this point that during all our search we never +descried land or the appearance of land out at sea, as indicated on +the charts of preceding navigators. These maps are incomplete, no +doubt, but sufficiently exact in their main lines. I am aware that +ships have often passed over the indicated bearings of land. This, +however, was not admissible in the case of Tsalal. If the _Jane_ had +been able to reach the islands, it was because that portion of the +Antarctic sea was free, and in so "early" a year, we need not +fear any obstacle in that direction. + +At last, on the 19th, between two and three o'clock in the +afternoon, a shout from the crow's-nest was heard. + +"What is it?" roared West. + +"The iceberg wall is split on the south-east." + +"What is beyond?" + +"Nothing in sight." + +It took West very little time to reach the point of observation, and +we all waited below, how impatiently may be imagined. What if the +look-out were mistaken, if some optical delusion?---- But West, at all +events, would make no mistake. + +After ten interminable minutes his clear voice reached us on the +deck. + +"Open sea!" he cried. + +Unanimous cheers made answer. + +The schooner's head was put to the south-east, hugging the wind as +much as possible. + +Two hours later we had doubled the extremity of the ice-barrier, and +there lay before our eyes a sparkling sea, entirely open. + +(1) The French word is _banquise_, which means the vast stretch of +icebergs farther south than the _barrière_ or ice-wall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. +A VOICE IN A DREAM. + + +Entirely free from ice? No. It would have been premature to affirm +this as a fact. A few icebergs were visible in the distance, while +some drifts and packs were still going east. Nevertheless, the +break-up had been very thorough on that side, and the sea was in +reality open, since a ship could sail freely. + +"God has come to our aid," said Captain Len Guy. "May He be +pleased to guide us to the end." + +"In a week," I remarked, "our schooner might come in sight of +Tsalal Island." + +"Provided that the east wind lasts, Mr. Jeorling. Don't forget +that in sailing along the icebergs to their eastern extremity, the +_Halbrane_ went out of her course, and she must be brought back +towards the west." + +"The breeze is for us, captain." + +"And we shall profit by it, for my intention is to make for Bennet +Islet. It was there that my brother first landed, and so soon as we +shall have sighted that island we shall be certain that we are on +the right route. To-day, when I have ascertained our position +exactly, we shall steer for Bennet Islet." + +"Who knows but that we may come upon some fresh sign?" + +"It is not impossible, Mr. Jeorling." + +I need not say that recourse was had to the surest guide within our +reach, that veracious narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, which I read +and re-read with intense attention, fascinated as I was by the idea +that I might be permitted to behold with my own eyes those strange +phenomena of nature in the Antarctic world which I, in common with +all Edgar Poe's readers, had hitherto regarded as creations of the +most imaginative writer who ever gave voice by his pen to the +phantasies of a unique brain. No doubt a great part of the wonders +of Arthur Gordon Pym's narrative would prove pure fiction, but if +even a little of the marvellous story were found to be true, how +great a privilege would be mine! + +The picturesque and wonderful side of the story we were studying as +gospel truth had little charm and but slight interest for Captain +Len Guy; he was indifferent to everything in Pym's narrative that +did not relate directly to the castaways of Tsalal Island: his mind +was solely and constantly set upon their rescue. + +According to the narrative of Arthur Pym, the _Jane_ experienced +serious difficulties, due to bad weather, from the 1st to the 4th of +January, 1828. It was not until the morning of the 5th, in latitude +73° 15', that she found a free passage through the last iceberg +that barred her way. The final difference between our position and +the _Jane_ in a parallel case, was that the _Jane_ took fifteen days to +accomplish the distance of ten degrees, or six hundred miles, which +separated her on the 5th of January from Tsalal Island, while on the +19th of December the _Halbrane_ was only about seven degrees, or four +hundred miles, off the island. Bennet Islet, where Captain Guy +intended to put in for twenty-four hours, was fifty miles nearer. +Our voyage was progressing under prosperous conditions; we were no +longer visited by sudden hail and snow storms, or those rapid falls +of temperature which tried the crew of the _Jane_ so sorely. A few +ice-floes drifted by us, occasionally peopled, as tourists throng a +pleasure yacht, by penguins, and also by dusky seals, lying flat +upon the white surfaces like enormous leeches. Above this strange +flotilla we traced the incessant flight of petrels, pigeons, black +puffins, divers, grebe, sterns, cormorants, and the sooty-black +albatross of the high latitudes. Huge medusæ, exquisitely tinted, +floated on the water like spread parasols. Among the denizens of the +deep, captured by the crew of the schooner with line and net, I +noted more particularly a sort of giant John Dory(1) (_dorade_) three +feet in length, with firm and savoury flesh. + +During the night, or rather what ought to have been the night of the +19th-20th, my sleep was disturbed by a strange dream. Yes! there +could be no doubt but that it was only a dream! Nevertheless, I +think it well to record it here, because it is an additional +testimony to the haunting influence under which my brain was +beginning to labour. + +I was sleeping--at two hours after midnight--and was awakened by a +plaintive and continuous murmuring sound. I opened--or I imagined I +opened my eyes. My cabin was in profound darkness. The murmur began +again; I listened, and it seemed to me that a voice--a voice which +I did not know--whispered these words:-- + +"Pym . . . Pym . . . poor Pym!" + +Evidently this could only be a delusion; unless, indeed, some one +had got into my cabin: the door was not locked. + +"Pym!" the voice repeated. "Poor Pym must never be +forgotten." + +This time the words were spoken close to my ear. What was the +meaning of the injunction, and why was it addressed to me? And +besides, had not Pym, after his return to America, met with a sudden +and deplorable death, the circumstances or the details being unknown? + +I began to doubt whether I was in my right mind, and shook myself +into complete wakefulness, recognizing that I had been disturbed by +an extremely vivid dream due to some cerebral cause. + +I turned out of my berth, and, pushing back the shutter, looked out +of my cabin. No one aft on the deck, except Hunt, who was at the +helm. + +I had nothing to do but to lie down again, and this I did. It seemed +to me that the name of Arthur Pym was repeated in my hearing several +times; nevertheless, I fell asleep and did not wake until morning, +when I retained only a vague impression of this occurrence, which +soon faded away. No other incident at that period of our voyage +calls for notice. Nothing particular occurred on board our schooner. +The breeze from the north, which had forsaken us, did not recur, and +only the current carried the _Halbrane_ towards the south. This caused +a delay unbearable to our impatience. + +At last, on the 21st, the usual observation gave 82° 50' of +latitude, and 42° 20' of west longitude. Bennet Islet, if it had +any existence, could not be far off now. + +Yes! the islet did exist, and its bearings were those indicated by +Arthur Pym. + +At six o'clock in the evening one of the crew cried out that there +was land ahead on the port side. + +(1) The legendary etymology of this piscatorial designation is +_Janitore_, the "door-keeper," in allusion to St. Peter, who +brought a fish, said to be of that species, to our Lord at His +command. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. +BENNET ISLET. + + +The _Halbrane_ was then within sight of Bennet Islet! The crew +urgently needed rest, so the disembarkation was deferred until the +following day, and I went back to my cabin. + +The night passed without disturbance, and when day came not a craft +of any kind was visible on the waters, not a native on the beach. +There were no huts upon the coast, no smoke arose in the distance to +indicate that Bennet Islet was inhabited. But William Guy had not +found any trace of human beings there, and what I saw of the islet +answered to the description given by Arthur Pym. It rose upon a +rocky base of about a league in circumference, and was so arid that +no vegetation existed on its surface. + +"Mr. Jeorling," said Captain Len Guy, "do you observe a +promontory in the direction of the north-east?" + +"I observe it, captain." + +"Is it not formed of heaped-up rocks which look like giant bales +of cotton?" + +"That is so, and just what the narrative describes." + +"Then all we have to do is to land on the promontory, Mr. Jeorling. +Who knows but we may come across some vestige of the crew of the +_Jane_, supposing them to have succeeded in escaping from Tsalal +Island." + +The speaker was devouring the islet with his eyes. What must his +thoughts, his desires, his impatience have been! But there was a man +whose gaze was set upon the same point even more fixedly; that man +was Hunt. + +Before we left the _Halbrane_ Len Guy enjoined the most minute and +careful watchfulness upon his lieutenant. This was a charge which +West did not need. Our exploration would take only half a day at +most. If the boat had not returned in the afternoon a second was to +be sent in search of us. + +"Look sharp also after our recruits," added the captain. + +"Don't be uneasy, captain," replied the lieutenant. "Indeed, +since you want four men at the oars you had better take them from +among the new ones. That will leave four less troublesome fellows on +board." + +This was a good idea, for, under the deplorable influence of Hearne, +the discontent of his shipmates from the Falklands was on the +increase. The boat being ready, four of the new crew took their +places forward, while Hunt, at his own request, was steersman. +Captain Len Guy, the boatswain and myself, all well armed, seated +ourselves aft, and we started for the northern point of the islet. +In the course of an hour we had doubled the promontory, and come in +sight of the little bay whose shores the boats of the _Jane_ had +touched. + +Hunt steered for this bay, gliding with remarkable skill between the +rocky points which stuck up here and there. One would have thought +he knew his way among them. + +We disembarked on a stony coast. The stones were covered with sparse +lichen. The tide was already ebbing, leaving uncovered the sandy +bottom of a sort of beach strewn with black blocks, resembling big +nail-heads. + +Two men were left in charge of the boat while we landed amid the +rocks, and, accompanied by the other two, Captain Len Guy, the +boatswain, Hunt and I proceeded towards the centre, where we found +some rising ground, from whence we could see the whole extent of the +islet. But there was nothing to be seen on any side, absolutely +nothing. On coming down from the slight eminence Hunt went on in +front, as it had been agreed that he was to be our guide. We +followed him therefore, as he led us towards the southern extremity +of the islet. Having reached the point, Hunt looked carefully on all +sides of him, then stooped and showed us a piece of half rotten wood +lying among the scattered stones. + +"I remember!" I exclaimed; "Arthur Pym speaks of a piece of +wood with traces of carving on it which appeared to have belonged to +the bow of a ship." + +"Among the carving my brother fancied he could trace the design of +a tortoise," added Captain Len Guy. + +"Just so," I replied, "but Arthur Pym pronounced that +resemblance doubtful. No matter; the piece of wood is still in the +same place that is indicated in the narrative, so we may conclude +that since the _Jane_ cast anchor here no other crew has ever set foot +upon Bennet Islet. It follows that we should only lose time in +looking out for any tokens of another landing. We shall know nothing +until we reach Tsalal Island." + +"Yes, Tsalal Island," replied the captain. + +We then retraced our steps in the direction of the bay. In various +places we observed fragments of coral reef, and bêche-de-mer was so +abundant that our schooner might have taken a full cargo of it. + +Hunt walked on in silence with downcast eyes, until as we were close +upon the beach to the east, he, being about ten paces ahead, stopped +abruptly, and summoned us to him by a hurried gesture. + +In an instant we were by his side. Hunt had evinced no surprise on +the subject of the piece of wood first found, but his attitude +changed when he knelt down in front of a worm-eaten plank lying on +the sand. He felt it all over with his huge hands, as though he were +seeking some tracery on its rough surface whose signification might +be intelligible to him. The black paint was hidden under the thick +dirt that had accumulated upon it. The plank had probably formed +part of a ship's stern, as the boatswain requested us to observe. + +"Yes, yes," repeated Captain Len Guy, "it made part of a +stern." + +Hunt, who still remained kneeling, nodded his big head in assent. + +"But," I remarked, "this plank must have been cast upon Bennet +Islet from a wreck! The cross-currents must have found it in the +open sea, and--" + +"If that were so--" cried the captain. + +The same thought had occurred to both of us. What was our surprise, +indeed our amazement, our unspeakable emotion, when Hunt showed us +eight letters cut in the plank, not painted, but hollow and +distinctly traceable with the finger. + +It was only too easy to recognize the letters of two names, arranged +in two lines, thus: + + AN + LI.E.PO.L. + +The _Jane of Liverpool_! The schooner commanded by Captain William +Guy! What did it matter that time had blurred the other letters? +Did not those suffice to tell the name of the ship and the port she +belonged to? The _Jane_ of Liverpool! + +Captain Len Guy had taken the plank in his hands, and now he pressed +his lips to it, while tears fell from his eyes. + +It was a fragment of the _Jane_! I did not utter a word until the +captain's emotion had subsided. As for Hunt, I had never seen such +a lightning glance from his brilliant hawk-like eyes as he now cast +towards the southern horizon. + +Captain Len Guy rose. + +Hunt, without a word, placed the plank upon his shoulder, and we +continued our route. + +When we had made the tour of the island, we halted at the place +where the boat had been left under the charge of two sailors, and +about half-past two in the afternoon we were again on board. + +Early on the morning of the 23rd of December the _Halbrane_ put off +from Bennet Islet, and we carried away with us new and convincing +testimony to the catastrophe which Tsalal Island had witnessed. + +During that day, I observed the sea water very attentively, and it +seemed to me less deeply blue than Arthur Pym describes it. Nor had +we met a single specimen of his monster of the austral fauna, an +animal three feet long, six inches high, with four short legs, long +coral claws, a silky body, a rat's tail, a cat's head, the +hanging ears, blood-red lips and white teeth of a dog. The truth is +that I regarded several of these details as "suspect," and +entirely due to an over-imaginative temperament. + +Seated far aft in the ship, I read Edgar Poe's book with sedulous +attention, but I was not unaware of the fact that Hunt, whenever his +duties furnished him with an opportunity, observed me pertinaciously, +and with looks of singular meaning. + +And, in fact, I was re-perusing the end of Chapter XVII., in which +Arthur Pym acknowledged his responsibility for the sad and tragic +events which were the results of his advice. It was, in fact, he who +over-persuaded Captain William Guy, urging him "to profit by so +tempting an opportunity of solving the great problem relating to the +Antarctic Continent." And, besides, while accepting that +responsibility, did he not congratulate himself on having been the +instrument of a great discovery, and having aided in some degree to +reveal to science one of the most marvellous secrets which had ever +claimed its attention? + +At six o'clock the sun disappeared behind a thick curtain of mist. +After midnight the breeze freshened, and the _Halbrane's_ progress +marked a dozen additional miles. + +On the morrow the good ship was less than the third of a degree, +that is to say less than twenty miles, from Tsalal Island. + +Unfortunately, just after mid-day, the wind fell. Nevertheless, +thanks to the current, the Island of Tsalal was signalled at +forty-five minutes past six in the evening. + +The anchor was cast, a watch was set, with loaded firearms within +hand-reach, and boarding-nets ready. + +The _Halbrane_ ran no risk of being surprised. Too many eyes were +watching on board--especially those of Hunt, whose gaze never +quitted the horizon of that southern zone for an instant. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. +TSALAL ISLAND. + + +The night passed without alarm. No boat had put off from the island, +nor had a native shown himself upon the beach. The _Halbrane_, then, +had not been observed on her arrival; this was all the better. + +We had cast anchor in ten fathoms, at three miles from the coast. + +When the _Jane_ appeared in these waters, the people of Tsalal beheld +a ship for the first time, and they took it for an enormous animal, +regarding its masts as limbs, and its sails as garments. Now, they +ought to be better informed on this subject, and if they did not +attempt to visit us, to what motive were we to assign such conduct? + +Captain Len Guy gave orders for the lowering of the ship's largest +boat, in a voice which betrayed his impatience. + +The order was executed, and the captain, addressing West, said,-- + +"Send eight men down with Martin Holt; send Hunt to the helm. +Remain yourself at the moorings, and keep a look-out landwards as +well as to sea." + +"Aye, aye, sir; don't be uneasy." + +"We are going ashore, and we shall try to gain the village of +Klock-Klock. If any difficulty should arise on sea, give us warning +by firing three shots." + +"All right," replied West--"at a minute's interval." + +"If we should not return before evening, send the second boat with +ten armed men under the boatswain's orders, and let them station +themselves within a cable's length of the shore, so as to escort +us back. You understand?" + +"Perfectly, captain." + +"If we are not to be found, after you have done all in your power, +you will take command of the schooner, and bring her back to the +Falklands." + +"I will do so." + +The large boat was rapidly got ready. Eight men embarked in it, +including Martin Holt and Hunt, all armed with rifles, pistols, and +knives; the latter weapons were slung in their belts. They also +carried cartridge-pouches. + +I stepped forward and said,-- + +"Will you not allow me to accompany you, captain?" + +"If you wish to do so, Mr. Jeorling." + +I went to my cabin, took my gun--a repeating rifle--with ball and +powder, and rejoined Captain Len Guy, who had kept a place in the +stern of the boat for me. Our object was to discover the passage +through which Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters had crossed the reef on the +19th of January, 1828, in the _Jane's_ boat. For twenty minutes we +rowed along the reef, and then Hunt discovered the pass, which was +through a narrow cut in the rocks. Leaving two men in the boat, we +landed, and having gone through the winding gorge which gave access +to the crest of the coast, our little force, headed by Hunt, pushed +on towards the centre of the island. Captain Len Guy and myself +exchanged observations, as we walked, on the subject of this +country, which, as Arthur Pym declared, differed essentially from +every other land hitherto visited by human beings. We soon found +that Pym's description was trustworthy. The general colour of the +plains was black, as though the clay were made of lava-dust; nowhere +was anything white to be seen. At a hundred paces' distance Hunt +began to run towards an enormous mass of rock, climbed on it with +great agility, and looked out over a wide extent of space like a man +who ought to recognize the place he is in, but does not. + +"What is the matter with him?" asked Captain Len Guy, who was +observing Hunt attentively. + +"I don't know what is the matter with him, captain. But, as you +are aware, everything about this man is odd: his ways are +inexplicable, and on certain sides of him he seems to belong to +those strange beings whom Arthur Pym asserts that he found on this +island. One would even say that--" + +"That--" repeated the captain. + +And then, without finishing my sentence, I said,-- + +"Captain, are you sure that you made a good observation when you +took the altitude yesterday?" + +"Certainly." + +"So that your point--" + +"Gave 83° 20' of latitude and 43° 5' of longitude." + +"Exactly?" + +"Exactly." + +"There is, then, no doubt that we are on Tsalal Island?" + +"None, Mr. Jeorling, if Tsalal Island lies where Arthur Pym places +it." + +This was quite true, there could be no doubt on the point, and yet +of all that Arthur Pym described nothing existed, or rather, nothing +was any longer to be seen. Not a tree, not a shrub, not a plant was +visible in the landscape. There was no sign of the wooded hills +between which the village of Klock-Klock ought to lie, or of the +streams from which the crew of the _Jane_ had not ventured to drink. +There was no water anywhere; but everywhere absolute, awful drought. + +Nevertheless, Hunt walked on rapidly, without showing any +hesitation. It seemed as though he was led by a natural instinct, +"a bee's flight," as we say in America. I know not what +presentiment induced us to follow him as the best of guides, a +Chingachgook, a Renard-Subtil. And why not? Was not he the +fellow-countryman of Fenimore Cooper's heroes? + +But, I must repeat that we had not before our eyes that fabulous +land which Arthur Pym described. The soil we were treading had been +ravaged, wrecked, torn by convulsion. It was black, a cindery black, +as though it had been vomited from the earth under the action of +Plutonian forces; it suggested that some appalling and irresistible +cataclysm had overturned the whole of its surface. + +Not one of the animals mentioned in the narrative was to be seen, +and even the penguins which abound in the Antarctic regions had fled +from this uninhabitable land. Its stern silence and solitude made it +a hideous desert. No human being was to be seen either on the coast +or in the interior. Did any chance of finding William Guy and the +survivors of the _Jane_ exist in the midst of this scene of desolation? + +I looked at Captain Len Guy. His pale face, dim eyes, and knit brow +told too plainly that hope was beginning to die within his breast. + +And then the population of Tsalal Island, the almost naked men, +armed with clubs and lances, the tall, well-made, upstanding women, +endowed with grace and freedom of bearing not to be found in a +civilized society--those are the expressions of Arthur Pym--and +the crowd of children accompanying them, what had become of all +these? Where were the multitude of natives, with black skins, black +hair, black teeth, who regarded white colour with deadly terror? + +All of a sudden a light flashed upon me. "An earthquake!" I +exclaimed. "Yes, two or three of those terrible shocks, so common +in these regions where the sea penetrates by infiltration, and a day +comes when the quantity of accumulated vapour makes its way out and +destroys everything on the surface." + +"Could an earthquake have changed Tsalal Island to such an +extent?" asked Len Guy, musingly. + +"Yes, captain, an earthquake has done this thing; it has destroyed +every trace of all that Arthur Pym saw here." + +Hunt, who had drawn nigh to us, and was listening, nodded his head +in approval of my words. + +"Are not these countries of the southern seas volcanic?" I +resumed. "If the _Halbrane_ were to transport us to Victoria Land, +we might find the _Erebus_ and the _Terror_ in the midst of an +eruption." + +"And yet," observed Martin Holt, "if there had been an +eruption here, we should find lava beds." + +"I do not say that there has been an eruption," I replied, +"but I do say the soil has been convulsed by an earthquake." + +On reflection it will be seen that the explanation given by me +deserved to be admitted. And then it came to my remembrance that +according to Arthur Pym's narrative, Tsalal belonged to a group of +islands which extended towards the west. Unless the people of Tsalal +had been destroyed, it was possible that they might have fled into +one of the neighbouring islands. We should do well, then, to go and +reconnoitre that archipelago, for Tsalal clearly had no resources +whatever to offer after the cataclysm. + +I spoke of this to the captain. + +"Yes," he replied, and tears stood in his eyes, "yes, it may +be so. And yet, how could my brother and his unfortunate companions +have found the means of escaping? Is it not far more probable that +they all perished in the earthquake?" + +Here Hunt made us a signal to follow him, and we did so. + +After he had pushed across the valley for a considerable distance, +he stopped. + +What a spectacle was before our eyes! + +There, lying in heaps, were human bones, all the fragments of that +framework of humanity which we call the skeleton, hundreds of them, +without a particle of flesh, clusters of skulls still bearing some +tufts of hair--a vast bone heap, dried and whitened in this place! +We were struck dumb and motionless by this spectacle. When Captain +Len Guy could speak, he murmured,-- + +"My brother, my poor brother!" + +On a little reflection, however, my mind refused to admit certain +things. How was this catastrophe to be reconciled with Patterson's +memoranda? The entries in his note-book stated explicitly that the +mate of the _Jane_ had left his companions on Tsalal Island seven +months previously. They could not then have perished in this +earthquake, for the state of the bones proved that it had taken +place several years earlier, and must have occurred after the +departure of Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters, since no mention of it was +made in the narrative of the former. + +These facts were, then, irreconcilable. If the earthquake was of +recent date, the presence of those time-bleached skeletons could not +be attributed to its action. In any case, the survivors of the _Jane_ +were not among them. But then, where were they? + +The valley of Klock-Klock extended no farther; we had to retrace our +steps in order to regain the coast. + +We had hardly gone half a mile on the cliff's edge when Hunt again +stopped, on perceiving some fragments of bones which were turning to +dust, and did not seem to be those of a human being. + +Were these the remains of one of the strange animals described by +Arthur Pym, of which we had not hitherto seen any specimens? + +Hunt suddenly uttered a cry, or rather a sort of savage growl, and +held out his enormous hand, holding a metal collar. Yes! a brass +collar, a collar eaten by rust, but bearing letters which might +still be deciphered. These letters formed the three following +words:-- + +"_Tiger_--Arthur Pym." + +Tiger!--the name of the dog which had saved Arthur Pym's life in +the hold of the _Grampus_, and, during the revolt of the crew, had +sprung at the throat of Jones, the sailor, who was immediately +"finished" by Dirk Peters. + +[Illustration: Hunt extended his enormous hand, holding a metal +collar.] + +So, then, that faithful animal had not perished in the shipwreck of +the _Grampus_. He had been taken on board the _Jane_ at the same time +as Arthur Pym and the half-breed. And yet the narrative did not allude +to this, and after the meeting with the schooner there was no longer +any mention of the dog. All these contradictions occurred to me. I +could not reconcile the facts. Nevertheless, there could be no doubt +that Tiger had been saved from the shipwreck like Arthur Pym, had +escaped the landslip of the Klock-Klock hill, and had come to his +death at last in the catastrophe which had destroyed a portion of +the population of Tsalal. + +But, again, William Guy and his five sailors could not be among +those skeletons which were strewn upon the earth, since they were +living at the time of Patterson's departure, seven months ago, and +the catastrophe already dated several years back! + +Three hours later we had returned on board the _Halbrane_, without +having made any other discovery. Captain Len Guy went direct to his +cabin, shut himself up there, and did not reappear even at dinner +hour. + +The following day, as I wished to return to the island in order to +resume its exploration from one coast to the other, I requested West +to have me rowed ashore. + +He consented, after he had been authorized by Captain Len Guy, who +did not come with us. + +Hunt, the boatswain, Martin Holt, four men, and myself took our +places in the boat, without arms; for there was no longer anything +to fear. + +We disembarked at our yesterday's landing-place, and Hunt again +led the way towards the hill of Klock-Klock. Nothing remained of the +eminence that had been carried away in the artificial landslip, from +which the captain of the _Jane_, Patterson, his second officer, and +five of his men had happily escaped. The village of Klock-Klock had +thus disappeared; and doubtless the mystery of the strange +discoveries narrated in Edgar Poe's work was now and ever would +remain beyond solution. + +We had only to regain our ship, returning by the east side of the +coast. Hunt brought us through the space where sheds had been +erected for the preparation of the _bêche-de mer_, and we saw the +remains of them. On all sides silence and abandonment reigned. + +We made a brief pause at the place where Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters +seized upon the boat which bore them towards higher latitudes, even +to that horizon of dark vapour whose rents permitted them to discern +the huge human figure, the white giant. + +Hunt stood with crossed arms, his eyes devouring the vast extent of +the sea. + +"Well, Hunt?" said I, tentatively. + +Hunt did not appear to hear me; he did not turn his head in my +direction. + +"What are we doing here?" I asked him, and touched him on the +shoulder. + +He started, and cast a glance upon me which went to my heart. + +"Come along, Hunt," cried Hurliguerly. "Are you going to take +root on this rock? Don't you see the _Halbrane_ waiting for us at +her moorings? Come along. We shall be off to-morrow. There is +nothing more to do here." + +It seemed to me that Hunt's trembling lips repeated the word +"nothing," while his whole bearing protested against what the +boatswain said. + +The boat brought us back to the ship. Captain Len Guy had not left +his cabin. West, having received no orders, was pacing the deck aft. +I seated myself at the foot of the mainmast, observing the sea which +lay open and free before us. + +At this moment the captain came on deck; he was very pale, and his +features looked pinched and weary. + +"Mr. Jeorling," said he, "I can affirm conscientiously that I +have done all it was possible to do. Can I hope henceforth that my +brother William and his companions-- No! No! We must go +away--before winter--" + +He drew himself up, and cast a last glance towards Tsalal Island. + +"To-morrow, Jim," he said to West, "to-morrow we will make +sail as early as possible." + +At this moment a rough voice uttered the words: + +"And Pym--poor Pym!" + +I recognized this voice. + +It was the voice I had heard in my dream. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. +AND PYM? + + +"And Pym--poor Pym?" + +I turned round quickly. + +Hunt had spoken. This strange person was standing motionless at a +little distance, gazing fixedly at the horizon. + +It was so unusual to hear Hunt's voice on board the schooner, that +the men, whom the unaccustomed sound reached, drew near, moved by +curiosity. Did not his unexpected intervention point to--I had a +presentiment that it did--some wonderful revelation? + +A movement of West's hand sent the men forward, leaving only the +mate, the boatswain, Martin Holt, the sailing-master, and Hardy, +with the captain and myself in the vicinity of Hunt. The captain +approached and addressed him: + +"What did you say?" + +"I said, ‘And Pym--poor Pym.'" + +"Well, then, what do you mean by repeating the name of the man +whose pernicious advice led my brother to the island on which the +_Jane_ was lost, the greater part of her crew was massacred, and where +we have not found even one left of those who were still here seven +months ago?" + +Hunt did not speak. + +"Answer, I say--answer!" cried the captain. + +Hunt hesitated, not because he did not know what to say, but from a +certain difficulty in expressing his ideas. The latter were quite +clear, but his speech was confused, his words were unconnected. He +had a certain language of his own which sometimes was picturesque, +and his pronunciation was strongly marked by the hoarse accent of +the Indians of the Far West. + +"You see," he said, "I do not know how to tell things. My +tongue stops. Understand me, I spoke of Pym, poor Pym, did I not?" + +"Yes," answered West, sternly; "and what have you to say about +Arthur Pym?" + +"I have to say that he must not be abandoned." + +"Abandoned!" I exclaimed. + +"No, never! It would be cruel--too cruel. We must go to seek +him." + +"To seek him?" repeated Captain Len Guy. + +"Understand me; it is for this that I have embarked on the +_Halbrane_--yes, to find poor Pym!" + +"And where is he," I asked, "if not deep in a grave, in the +cemetery of his natal city?" + +"No, he is in the place where he remained, alone, all alone," +continued Hunt, pointing towards the south; "and since then the +sun has risen on that horizon seven times." + +It was evident that Hunt intended to designate the Antarctic +regions, but what did he mean by this? + +"Do you not know that Arthur Pym is dead?" said the captain. + +"Dead!" replied Hunt, emphasizing the word with an expressive +gesture. "No! listen to me: I know things; understand me, he is +not dead." + +"Come now, Hunt," said I, "remember what you do know. In the +last chapter of the adventures of Arthur Pym, does not Edgar Poe +relate his sudden and deplorable end?" + +"Explain yourself, Hunt," said the captain, in a tone of +command. "Reflect, take your time, and say plainly whatever you +have to say." + +And, while Hunt passed his hand over his brow, as though to collect +his memory of far-off things, I observed to Captain Len Guy,-- + +"There is something very singular in the intervention of this man, +if indeed he be not mad." + +At my words the boatswain shook his head, for he did not believe +Hunt to be in his right mind. + +The latter understood this shake of the boatswain's head, and +cried out in a harsh tone,-- + +"No, not mad. And madmen are respected on the prairies, even if +they are not believed. And I--I must be believed. No, no, no! Pym +is not dead!" + +"Edgar Poe asserts that he is," I replied. + +"Yes, I know, Edgar Poe of Baltimore. But--he never saw poor Pym, +never, never." + +"What!" exclaimed Captain Len Guy; "the two men were not +acquainted?" + +"No!" + +"And it was not Arthur Pym himself who related his adventures to +Edgar Poe?" + +"No, captain, no! He, below there, at Baltimore, had only the +notes written by Pym from the day when he hid himself on board the +_Grampus_ to the very last hour--the last--understand me the last." + +"Who, then, brought back that journal?" asked Captain Len Guy, +as he seized Hunt's hand. + +"It was Pym's companion, he who loved him, his poor Pym, like a +son. It was Dirk Peters, the half-breed, who came back alone from +there--beyond." + +"The half-breed, Dirk Peters!" I exclaimed. + +"Yes." + +"Alone?" + +"Alone." + +"And Arthur Pym may be--" + +"There," answered Hunt, in a loud voice, bending towards the +southern line, from which he had not diverted his gaze for a moment. + +Could such an assertion prevail against the general incredulity? No, +assuredly not! Martin Holt nudged Hurliguerly with his elbow, and +both regarded Hunt with pity, while West observed him without +speaking. Captain Len Guy made me a sign, meaning that nothing +serious was to be got out of this poor fellow, whose mental +faculties must have been out of gear for a long time. + +And nevertheless, when I looked keenly at Hunt, it seemed to me that +a sort of radiance of truth shone out of his eyes. + +Then I set to work to interrogate the man, putting to him precise +and pressing questions which he tried to answer categorically, as we +shall see, and not once did he contradict himself. + +"Tell me," I asked, "did Arthur Pym really come to Tsalal +Island on board the _Grampus_?" + +"Yes." + +"Did Arthur Pym separate himself, with the half-breed and one of +the sailors, from his companions while Captain William Guy had gone +to the village of Klock-Klock?" + +"Yes. The sailor was one Allen, and he was almost immediately +stifled under the stones." + +"Then the two others saw the attack, and the destruction of the +schooner, from the top of the hill?" + +"Yes." + +"Then, some time later, the two left the island, after they had +got possession of one of the boats which the natives could not take +from them?" + +"Yes." + +"And, after twenty days, having reached the front of the curtain +of vapour, they were both carried down into the gulf of the +cataract?" + +This time Hunt did not reply in the affirmative; he hesitated, he +stammered out some vague words; he seemed to be trying to rekindle +the half-extinguished flame of his memory. At length, looking at me +and shaking his head, he answered,-- + +"No, not both. Understand me--Dirk never told me--" + +"Dirk Peters," interposed Captain Len Guy, quickly. "You knew +Dirk Peters?" + +"Yes." + +"Where?" + +"At Vandalia, State of Illinois." + +"And it is from him that you have all this information concerning +the voyage?" + +"From him." + +"And he came back alone--alone--from that voyage, having left +Arthur Pym." + +"Alone!" + +"Speak, man--do speak!" I cried, impatiently. Then, in broken, +but intelligible sentences, Hunt spoke,-- + +"Yes--there--a curtain of vapour--so the half-breed often +said--understand me. The two, Arthur Pym and he, were in the Tsalal +boat. Then an enormous block of ice came full upon them. At the +shock Dirk Peters was thrown into the sea, but he clung to the ice +block, and--understand me, he saw the boat drift with the current, +far, very far, too far! In vain did Pym try to rejoin his companion, +he could not; the boat drifted on and on, and Pym, that poor dear +Pym, was carried away. It is he who has never come back, and he is +there, still there!" + +If Hunt had been the half-breed in person he could not have spoken +with more heartfelt emotion of "poor Pym." + +It was then, in front of the "curtain of vapour," that Arthur +Pym and the half-breed had been separated from each other. Dirk +Peters had succeeded in returning from the ice-world to America, +whither he had conveyed the notes that were communicated to Edgar +Poe. + +Hunt was minutely questioned upon all these points and he replied, +conformably, he declared, to what the half-breed had told him many +times. According to this statement, Dirk Peters had Arthur Pym's +note-book in his pocket at the moment when the ice-block struck +them, and thus the journal which the half-breed placed at the +disposal of the American romance-writer was saved. + +"Understand me," Hunt repeated, "for I tell you things as I +have them from Dirk Peters. While the drift was carrying him away, +he cried out with all his strength. Pym, poor Pym, had already +disappeared in the midst of the vapour. The half-breed, feeding upon +raw fish, which he contrived to catch, was carried back by a cross +current to Tsalal Island, where he landed half dead from hunger." + +"To Tsalal Island!" exclaimed Captain Len Guy. "And how long +was it since they had left it?" + +"Three weeks--yes, three weeks at the farthest, so Dirk Peters +told me." + +"Then he must have found all that remained of the crew of the +_Jane_--my brother William and those who had survived with him?" + +"No," replied Hunt; "and Dirk Peters always believed that they +had perished--yes, to the very last man. There was no one upon the +island." + +"No one?" + +"Not a living soul." + +"But the population?" + +"No one! No one, I tell you. The island was a desert--yes, a desert!" + +This statement contradicted certain facts of which we were +absolutely certain. After all, though, it was possible that when Dirk +Peters returned to Tsalal Island, the population, seized by who can +tell what terror, had already taken refuge upon the south-western +group, and that William Guy and his companions were still hidden in the +gorges of Klock-Klock. That would explain why the half-breed had not +come across them, and also why the survivors of the _Jane_ had had +nothing to fear during the eleven years of their sojourn in the island. +On the other hand, since Patterson had left them there seven months +previously, if we did not find them, that must have been because they +had been obliged to leave Tsalal, the place being rendered +uninhabitable by the earthquake. + +"So that," resumed Captain Len Guy, "on the return of Dirk Peters, +there was no longer an inhabitant on the island?" + +"No one," repeated Hunt, "no one. The half-breed did not meet a single +native." + +"And what did Dirk Peters do?" + +"Understand me. A forsaken boat lay there, at the back of the bay, +containing some dried meat and several casks of water. The +half-breed got into it, and a south wind--yes, south, very strong, +the same that had driven the ice block, with the cross current, +towards Tsalal Island--carried him on for weeks and weeks--to the +iceberg barrier, through a passage in it--you may believe me, I am +telling you only what Dirk Peters told me--and he cleared the polar +circle." + +"And beyond it?" I inquired. + +"Beyond it. He was picked up by an American whaler, the _Sandy +Hook_, and taken back to America." + +Now, one thing at all events was clear. Edgar Poe had never known +Arthur Pym. This was the reason why, wishing to leave his readers in +exciting uncertainty, he had brought Pym to an end "as sudden as +it was deplorable," but without indicating the manner or the cause of +his death. + +"And yet, although Arthur Pym did not return, could it be +reasonably admitted that he had survived his companion for any +length of time, that he was still living, eleven years having +elapsed since his disappearance?" + +"Yes, yes," replied Hunt. + +And this he affirmed with the strong conviction that Dirk Peters had +infused into his mind while the two were living together in +Vandalia, in Illinois. + +Now the question arose, was Hunt sane? Was it not he who had stolen +into my cabin in a fit of insanity--of this I had no doubt--and +murmured in my ear the words: "And Pym--poor Pym"? + +Yes, and I had not been dreaming! In short, if all that Hunt had +just said was true, if he was but the faithful reporter of secrets +which had been entrusted to him by Dirk Peters, ought he to be +believed when he repeated in a tone of mingled command and +entreaty,-- + +"Pym is not dead. Pym is there. Poor Pym must not be forsaken!" + +When I had made an end of questioning Hunt, Captain Len Guy came out +of his meditative mood, profoundly troubled, and gave the word, +"All hands forward!" + +When the men were assembled around him, he said,-- + +"Listen to me, Hunt, and seriously consider the gravity of the +questions I am about to put to you." + +Hunt held his head up, and ran his eyes over the crew of the +_Halbrane_. + +"You assert, Hunt, that all you have told us concerning Arthur Pym is +true?" + +"Yes." + +"You knew Dirk Peters?" + +"Yes." + +"You lived some years with him in Illinois?" + +"Nine years." + +"And he often related these things to you?" + +"Yes." + +"And, for your own part, you have no doubt that he told you the +exact truth?" + +"None." + +"Well, then, did it never occur to him that some of the crew of +the _Jane_ might have remained on Tsalal Island?" + +"No." + +"He believed that William Guy and his companions must all have +perished in the landslip of the hill of Klock-Klock?" + +"Yes, and from what he often repeated to me, Pym believed it also." + +"Where did you see Dirk Peters for the last time?" + +"At Vandalia." + +"How long ago?" + +"Over two years." + +"And which of you two was the first to leave Vandalia?" + +I thought I detected a slight hesitation in Hunt before he +answered,-- + +"We left the place together." + +"You, to go to?" + +"The Falklands." + +"And he?" + +"He?" repeated Hunt. + +And then his wandering gaze fixed itself on Martin Holt, our +sailing-master, whose life he had saved at the risk of his own +during the tempest. + +"Well!" resumed the captain, "do you not understand what I am +asking you?" + +"Yes." + +"Then answer me. When Dirk Peters left Illinois, did he finally +give up America?" + +"Yes." + +"To go whither? Speak!" + +"To the Falklands." + +"And where is he now?" + +"He stands before you." + +Dirk Peters! Hunt was the half-breed Dirk Peters, the devoted +companion of Arthur Pym, he whom Captain Guy had so long sought for +in the United States, and whose presence was probably to furnish us +with a fresh reason for pursuing our daring campaign. + +I shall not be at all surprised if my readers have already +recognized Dirk Peters in Hunt; indeed, I shall be astonished if +they have failed to do so. The extraordinary thing is that Captain +Len Guy and myself, who had read Edgar Poe's book over and over +again, did not see at once, when Hunt came on the ship at the +Falklands, that he and the half-breed were identical! I can only +admit that we were both blindfolded by some hidden action of Fate, +just when certain pages of that book ought to have effectually +cleared our vision. + +There was no doubt whatever that Hunt really was Dirk Peters. +Although he was eleven years older, he answered in every particular +to the description of him given by Arthur Pym, except that he was no +longer "of fierce aspect." In fact, the half-breed had changed +with age and the experience of terrible scenes through which he had +passed; nevertheless, he was still the faithful companion to whom +Arthur Pym had often owed his safety, that same Dirk Peters who +loved him as his own son, and who had never--no, never--lost the +hope of finding him again one day amid the awful Antarctic wastes. + +Now, why had Dirk Peters hidden himself in the Falklands under the +name of Hunt? Why, since his embarkation on the _Halbrane_, had he +kept up that _incognito_? Why had he not told who he was, since he was +aware of the intentions of the captain, who was about to make every +effort to save his countrymen by following the course of the _Jane_? + +Why? No doubt because he feared that his name would inspire horror. +Was it not the name of one who had shared in the horrible scenes of +the _Grampus_, who had killed Parker, the sailor, who had fed upon the +man's flesh, and quenched his thirst in the man's blood? To +induce him to reveal his name he must needs be assured that the +_Halbrane_ would attempt to discover and rescue Arthur Pym! + +And as to the existence of Arthur Pym? I confess that my reason did +not rebel against the admission of it as a possibility. The +imploring cry of the half-breed, "Pym, poor Pym! he must not be +forsaken!" troubled me profoundly. + +Assuredly, since I had resolved to take part in the expedition of +the _Halbrane_, I was no longer the same man! + +A long silence had followed the astounding declaration of the +half-breed. None dreamed of doubting his veracity. He had said, "I +am Dirk Peters." He was Dirk Peters. + +At length, moved by irresistible impulse, I said: + +"My friends, before any decision is made, let us carefully +consider the situation. Should we not lay up everlasting regret for +ourselves if we were to abandon our expedition at the very moment +when it promises to succeed? Reflect upon this, captain, and you, +my companions. It is less than seven months since Patterson left +your countrymen alive on Tsalal Island. If they were there then, the +fact proves that for eleven years they had been enabled to exist on +the resources provided by the island, having nothing to fear from +the islanders, some of whom had fallen victims to circumstances +unknown to us, and others had probably transferred themselves to +some neighbouring island. This is quite plain, and I do not see how +any objection can be raised to my reasoning." + +No one made answer: there was none to be made. + +"If we have not come across the captain of the _Jane_ and his +people," I resumed, "it is because they have been obliged to +abandon Tsalal Island since Patterson's departure. Why? In my +belief, it was because the earthquake had rendered the island +uninhabitable. Now, they would only have required a native boat to +gain either another island or some point of the Antarctic continent +by the aid of the southern current. I hardly hesitate to assert that +all this has occurred; but in any case, I know, and I repeat, that +we shall have done nothing if we do not persevere in the search on +which the safety of your countrymen depends." + +I questioned my audience by a searching look. No answer. + +Captain Len Guy, whose emotion was unrestrained, bowed his head, for +he felt that I was right, that by invoking the duties of humanity I +was prescribing the only course open to men with feeling hearts. + +"And what is in question?" I continued, after the silent pause. +"To accomplish a few degrees of latitude, and that while the sea +is open, while we have two months of good weather to look for, and +nothing to fear from the southern winter. I certainly should not ask +you to brave its severity. And shall we hesitate, when the _Halbrane_ +is abundantly furnished, her crew complete and in good health? Shall +we take fright at imaginary dangers? Shall we not have courage to go +on, on, thither?" + +[Illustration: Dirk Peters shows the way.] + +And I pointed to the southern horizon. Dirk Peters pointed to it +also, with an imperative gesture which spoke for him. + +Still, the eyes of all were fixed upon us, but there was no +response. I continued to urge every argument, and to quote every +example in favour of the safety of pursuing our voyage, but the +silence was unbroken, and now the men stood with eyes cast down. + +And yet I had not once pronounced the name of Dirk Peters, nor +alluded to Dirk Peters' proposal. + +I was asking myself whether I had or had not succeeded in inspiring +my companions with my own belief, when Captain Len Guy spoke: + +"Dirk Peters," he said, "do you assert that Arthur Pym and you +after your departure from Tsalal Island saw land in the direction of +the south?" + +"Yes, land," answered the half-breed. "Islands or +continent--understand me--and I believe that Pym, poor Pym, is +waiting there until aid comes to him." + +"There, where perhaps William Guy and his companions are also +waiting," said I, to bring back the discussion to more practical +points. + +Captain Len Guy reflected for a little while, and then spoke: + +"Is it true, Dirk Peters," he asked, "that beyond the +eighty-fourth parallel the horizon is shut in by that curtain of +vapour which is described in the narrative? Have you seen--seen +with your own eyes--those cataracts in the air, that gulf in which +Arthur Pym's boat was lost?" + +The half-breed looked from one to the other of us, and shook his big +head. + +"I don't know," he said. "What are you asking me about, +captain? A curtain of vapour? Yes, perhaps, and also appearances of +land towards the south." + +Evidently Dirk Peters had never read Edgar Poe's book, and very +likely did not know how to read. After having handed over Pym's +journal, he had not troubled himself about its publication. Having +retired to Illinois at first and to the Falklands afterwards, he had +no notion of the stir that the work had made, or of the fantastic +and baseless climax to which our great poet had brought those +strange adventures. + +And, besides, might not Arthur Pym himself, with his tendency to the +supernatural, have fancied that he saw these wondrous things, due +solely to his imaginative brain? + +Then, for the first time in the course of this discussion, West's +voice made itself heard. I had no idea which side he would take. The +first words he uttered were: + +"Captain, your orders?" + +Captain Len Guy turned towards his crew, who surrounded him, both +the old and the new. Hearne remained in the background, ready to +intervene if he should think it necessary. + +The captain questioned the boatswain and his comrades, whose +devotion was unreservedly his, by a long and anxious look, and I +heard him mutter between his teeth,-- + +"Ah! if it depended only on me! if I were sure of the assent and +the help of them all!" + +Then Hearne spoke roughly: + +"Captain," said he, "it's two months since we left the +Falklands. Now, my companions were engaged for a voyage which was +not to take them farther beyond the icebergs than Tsalal Island." + +"That is not so," exclaimed Captain Len Guy. "No! That is not +so. I recruited you all for an enterprise which I have a right to +pursue, so far as I please." + +"Beg pardon," said Hearne, coolly, "but we have come to a +point which no navigator has ever yet reached, in a sea, no ship +except the _Jane_ has ever ventured into before us, and therefore my +comrades and I mean to return to the Falklands before the bad +season. From there _you_ can return to Tsalal Island, and even go on +to the Pole, if you so please." + +A murmur of approbation greeted his words; no doubt the +sealing-master justly interpreted the sentiments of the majority, +composed of the new recruits. To go against their opinion, to exact +the obedience of these ill-disposed men, and under such conditions +to risk the unknown Antarctic waters, would have been an act of +temerity--or, rather, an act of madness--that would have brought +about some catastrophe. + +Nevertheless, West, advancing upon Hearne, said to him in a +threatening tone, "Who gave you leave to speak?" + +"The captain questioned us," replied Hearne. "I had a right to +reply." + +The man uttered these words with such insolence that West, who was +generally so self-restrained, was about to give free vent to his +wrath, when Captain Len Guy, stopping him by a motion of his hand, +said quietly,-- + +"Be calm, Jem. Nothing can be done unless we are all agreed. What +is your opinion, Hurliguerly?" + +"It is very clear, captain," replied the boatswain. "I will +obey your orders, whatever they may be! It is our duty not to +forsake William Guy and the others so long as any chance of saving +them remains." + +The boatswain paused for a moment, while several of the sailors gave +unequivocal signs of approbation. + +"As for what concerns Arthur Pym--" + +"There is no question of Arthur Pym," struck in the captain, +"but only of my brother William and his companions." + +I saw at this moment that Dirk Peters was about to protest, and +caught hold of his arm. He shook with anger, but kept silence. + +The captain continued his questioning of the men, desiring to know +by name all those upon whom he might reckon. The old crew to a man +acquiesced in his proposals, and pledged themselves to obey his +orders implicitly and follow him whithersoever he chose to go. + +Three only of the recruits joined those faithful seamen; these were +English sailors. The others were of Hearne's opinion, holding that +for them the campaign was ended at Tsalal Island. They therefore +refused to go beyond that point, and formally demanded that the ship +should be steered northward so as to clear the icebergs at the most +favourable period of the season. + +Twenty men were on their side, and to constrain them to lend a hand +to the working of the ship if she were to be diverted to the south +would have been to provoke them to rebel. There was but one +resource: to arouse their covetousness, to strike the chord of +self-interest. + +I intervened, therefore, and addressed them in a tone which +placed the seriousness of my proposal beyond a doubt. + +"Men of the _Halbrane_, listen to me! Just as various States have +done for voyages of discovery in the Polar Regions, I offer a reward +to the crew of this schooner. Two thousand dollars shall be shared +among you for every degree we make beyond the eighty-fourth +parallel." + +Nearly seventy dollars to each man; this was a strong temptation. + +I felt that I had hit the mark. + +"I will sign an agreement to that effect," I continued, "with +Captain Len Guy as your representative, and the sums gained shall be +handed to you on your return, no matter under what conditions that +return be accomplished." + +I waited for the effect of this promise, and, to tell the truth, I +had not to wait long. + +"Hurrah!" cried the boatswain, acting as fugleman to his +comrades, who almost unanimously added their cheers to his. Hearne +offered no farther opposition; it would always be in his power to +put in his word when the circumstances should be more propitious. + +Thus the bargain was made, and, to gain my ends, I have made a +heavier sacrifice. + +It is true we were within seven degrees of the South Pole, and, if +the _Halbrane_ should indeed reach that spot, it would never cost +me more than fourteen thousand dollars. + +Early in the morning of the 27th of December the _Halbrane_ put out to +sea, heading south-west. + +After the scene of the preceding evening Captain Len Guy had taken a +few hours' rest. I met him next day on deck while West was going +about fore and aft, and he called us both to him. + +"Mr. Jeorling," he said, "it was with a terrible pang that I +came to the resolution to bring our schooner back to the north! I +felt I had not done all I ought to do for our unhappy +fellow-countrymen: but I knew that the majority of the crew would be +against me if I insisted on going beyond Tsalal Island." + +"That is true, captain; there was a beginning of indiscipline on +board, and perhaps it might have ended in a revolt." + +"A revolt we should have speedily put down," said West, coolly, +"were it only by knocking Hearne, who is always exciting the +mutinous men, on the head." + +"And you would have done well, Jem," said the captain. "Only, +justice being satisfied, what would have become of the agreement +together, which we must have in order to do anything?" + +"Of course, captain, it is better that things passed off without +violence! But for the future Hearne will have to look out for +himself." + +"His companions," observed the captain, "are now greedy for +the prizes that have been promised them. The greed of gain will make +them more willing and persevering. The generosity of Mr. Jeorling +has succeeded where our entreaties would undoubtedly have failed. I +thank him for it." + +Captain Len Guy held out a hand to me, which I grasped cordially. + +After some general conversation relating to our purpose, the +ship's course, and the proposed verification of the bearings of +the group of islands on the west of Tsalal which is described by +Arthur Pym, the captain said,-- + +"As it is possible that the ravages of the earthquake did not +extend to this group, and that it may still be inhabited, we must be +on our guard in approaching the bearings." + +"Which cannot be very far off," I added. "And then, captain, +who knows but that your brother and his sailors might have taken +refuge on one of these islands!" + +This was admissible, but not a consoling eventuality, for in that +case the poor fellows would have fallen into the hands of those +savages of whom they were rid while they remained at Tsalal. + +"Jem," resumed Captain Len Guy, "we are making good way, and +no doubt land will be signalled in a few hours. Give orders for the +watch to be careful." + +"It's done, captain." + +"There is a man in the crow's-nest?" + +"Dirk Peters himself, at his own request." + +"All right, Jem; we may trust his vigilance." + +"And also his eyes," I added, "for he is gifted with amazing +sight." + +For two hours of very quick sailing not the smallest indication of +the group of eight islands was visible. + +"It is incomprehensible that we have not come in sight of them," +said the captain. "I reckon that the _Halbrane_ has made sixty miles +since this morning, and the islands in question are tolerably close +together." + +"Then, captain, we must conclude--and it is not unlikely--that +the group to which Tsalal belonged has entirely disappeared in the +earthquake." + +"Land ahead!" cried Dirk Peters. + +We looked, but could discern nothing on the sea, nor was it until a +quarter of an hour had elapsed that our glasses enabled us to +recognize the tops of a few scattered islets shining in the oblique +rays of the sun, two or three miles to the westward. + +What a change! How had it come about? Arthur Pym described spacious +islands, but only a small number of tiny islets, half a dozen at +most, protruded from the waters. + +At this moment the half-breed came sliding down from his lofty perch +and jumped to the deck. + +"Well, Dirk Peters! Have you recognized the group?" asked the +captain. + +"The group?" replied the half-breed, shaking his head. "No, I +have only seen the tops of five or six islets. There is nothing but +stone heaps there--not a single island!" + +As the schooner approached we easily recognized these fragments of +the group, which had been almost entirely destroyed on its western +side. The scattered remains formed dangerous reefs which might +seriously injure the keel or the sides of the _Halbrane_, and there +was no intention of risking the ship's safety among them. We +accordingly cast anchor at a safe distance, and a boat was lowered +for the reception of Captain Len Guy, the boatswain, Dirk Peters, +Holt, two men and myself. The still, transparent water, as Peters +steered us skilfully between the projecting edges of the little +reefs, allowed us to see, not a bed of sand strewn with shells, but +blackish heaps which were overgrown by land vegetation, tufts of plants +not belonging to the marine flora that floated on the surface of the +sea. Presently we landed on one of the larger islets which rose to +about thirty feet above the sea. + +"Do the tides rise sometimes to that height?" I inquired of the +captain. + +[Illustration: The half-breed in the crow's-nest.] + +"Never," he replied, "and perhaps we shall discover some +remains of the vegetable kingdom, of habitations, or of an +encampment." + +"The best thing we can do," said the boatswain, "is to follow +Dirk Peters, who has already distanced us. The half-breed's lynx +eyes will see what we can't." + +Peters had indeed scaled the eminence in a moment, and we presently +joined him on the top. + +The islet was strewn with remains (probably of those domestic +animals mentioned in Arthur Pym's journal), but these bones +differed from the bones on Tsalal Island by the fact that the heaps +dated from a few months only. This then agreed with the recent +period at which we placed the earthquake. Besides, plants and tufts +of flowers were growing here and there. + +"And these are this year's," I cried, "no southern winter +has passed over them." + +These facts having been ascertained, no doubt could remain +respecting the date of the cataclysm after the departure of +Patterson. The destruction of the population of Tsalal whose bones +lay about the village was not attributable to that catastrophe. +William Guy and the five sailors of the _Jane_ had been able to fly in +time, since no bones that could be theirs had been found on the +island. + +Where had they taken refuge? This was the ever-pressing question. +What answer were we to obtain? Must we conclude that having reached +one of these islets they had perished in the swallowing-up of the +archipelago? We debated this point, as may be supposed, at a length +and with detail which I can only indicate here. Suffice it to say +that a decision was arrived at to the following effect. Our sole +chance of discovering the unfortunate castaways was to continue our +voyage for two or three parallels farther; the goal was there, and +which of us would not sacrifice even his life to attain it? + +"God is guiding us, Mr. Jeorling," said Captain Len Guy. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. +A REVELATION. + + +The following day, the 29th of December, at six in the morning, the +schooner set sail with a north-east wind, and this time her course +was due south. The two succeeding days passed wholly without +incident; neither land nor any sign of land was observed. The men on +the _Halbrane_ took great hauls of fish, to their own satisfaction and +ours. It was New Year's Day, 1840, four months and seventeen days +since I had left the Kerguelens and two months and five days since +the _Halbrane_ had sailed from the Falklands. The half-breed, between +whom and myself an odd kind of tacit understanding subsisted, +approached the bench on which I was sitting--the captain was in his +cabin, and West was not in sight--with a plain intention of +conversing with me. The subject may easily be guessed. + +"Dirk Peters," said I, taking up the subject at once, "do you +wish that we should talk of _him_?" + +"Him!" he murmured. + +"You have remained faithful to his memory, Dirk Peters." + +"Forget him, sir! Never!" + +"He is always there--before you?" + +"Always! So many dangers shared! That makes brothers! No, it makes +a father and his son! Yes! And I have seen America again, but +Pym--poor Pym--he is still beyond there!" + +"Dirk Peters," I asked, "have you any idea of the route which +you and Arthur Pym followed in the boat after your departure from +Tsalal Island?" + +"None, sir! Poor Pym had no longer any instrument--you +know--sea machines--for looking at the sun. We could not know, +except that for the eight days the current pushed us towards the +south, and the wind also. A fine breeze and a fair sea, and our +shirts for a sail." + +"Yes, white linen shirts, which frightened your prisoner Nu +Nu--" + +"Perhaps so--I did not notice. But if Pym has said so, Pym must +be believed." + +"And during those eight days you were able to supply yourselves +with food?" + +"Yes, sir, and the days after--we and the savage. You know--the +three turtles that were in the boat. These animals contain a store +of fresh water--and their flesh is sweet, even raw. Oh, raw flesh, +sir!" + +He lowered his voice, and threw a furtive glance around him. It +would be impossible to describe the frightful expression of the +half-breed's face as he thus recalled the terrible scenes of the +_Grampus_. And it was not the expression of a cannibal of Australia or +the New Hebrides, but that of a man who is pervaded by an +insurmountable horror of himself. + +"Was it not on the 1st of March, Dirk Peters," I asked, "that +you perceived for the first time the veil of grey vapour shot with +luminous and moving rays?" + +"I do not remember, sir, but if Pym says it was so, Pym must be +believed." + +"Did he never speak to you of fiery rays which fell from the +sky?" I did not use the term "polar aurora," lest the half-breed should +not understand it. + +"Never, sir," said Dirk Peters, after some reflection. + +"Did you not remark that the colour of the sea changed, grew white +like milk, and that its surface became ruffled around your boat?" + +"It may have been so, sir; I did not observe. The boat went on and +on, and my head went with it." + +"And then, the fine powder, as fine as ashes, that fell--" + +"I don't remember it." + +"Was it not snow?" + +"Snow? Yes! No! The weather was warm. What did Pym say? Pym must +be believed." He lowered his voice and continued: "But Pym will +tell you all that, sir. He knows. I do not know. He saw, and you +will believe him." + +"Yes, Dirk Peters, I shall believe him." + +"We are to go in search of him, are we not?" + +"I hope so." + +"After we shall have found William Guy and the sailors of the +_Jane_!" + +"Yes, after." + +"And even if we do not find them?" + +"Yes, even in that case. I think I shall induce our captain. I +think he will not refuse--" + +"No, he will not refuse to bring help to a man--a man like him!" + +"And yet," I said, "if William Guy and his people are living, +can we admit that Arthur Pym--" + +"Living? Yes! Living!" cried the half-breed. "By the great +spirit of my fathers, he is--he is waiting for me, my poor Pym! How +joyful he will be when he clasps his old Dirk in his arms, and +I--I, when I feel him, there, there." + +And the huge chest of the man heaved like a stormy sea. Then he went +away, leaving me inexpressibly affected by the revelation of the +tenderness for his unfortunate companion that lay deep in the heart +of this semi-savage. + +In the meantime I said but little to Captain Len Guy, whose whole +heart and soul were set on the rescue of his brother, of the +possibility of our finding Arthur Gordon Pym. Time enough, if in the +course of this strange enterprise of ours we succeeded in that object, +to urge upon him one still more visionary. + +At length, on the 7th of January--according to Dirk Peters, who had +fixed it only by the time that had expired--we arrived at the +place where Nu Nu the savage breathed his last, lying in the bottom +of the boat. On that day an observation gave 86° 33' for the latitude, +the longitude remaining the same between the forty-second and the +forty-third meridian. Here it was, according to the half-breed, that +the two fugitives were parted after the collision between the boat +and the floating mass of ice. But a question now arose. Since the +mass of ice carrying away Dirk Peters had drifted towards the north, +was this because it was subjected to the action of a counter-current? + +Yes, that must have been so, for our schooner had not felt the +influence of the current which had guided her on leaving the +Falklands, for fully four days. And yet, there was nothing +surprising in that, for everything is variable in the austral seas. +Happily, the fresh breeze from the north-east continued to blow, and +the _Halbrane_ made progress toward higher waters, thirteen degrees in +advance upon Weddell's ship and two degrees upon the _Jane_. As for the +land--islands or continent--which Captain Len Guy was seeking on +the surface of that vast ocean, it did not appear. I was well aware +that he was gradually losing confidence in our enterprise. + +As for me, I was possessed by the desire to rescue Arthur Pym as +well as the survivors of the _Jane_. And yet, how could he have +survived! But then, the half-breed's fixed idea! Supposing our +captain were to give the order to go back, what would Dirk Peters +do? Throw himself into the sea rather than return northwards? This +it was which made me dread some act of violence on his part, when he +heard the greater number of the sailors protesting against this +insensate voyage, and talking of putting the ship about, especially +towards Hearne, who was stealthily inciting his comrades of the +Falklands to insubordination. + +It was absolutely necessary not to allow discipline to decline, or +discouragement to grow among the crew; so that, on the 7th of +January, Captain Len Guy at my request assembled the men and +addressed them in the following words:-- + +"Sailors of the _Halbrane_, since our departure from Tsalal Island, +the schooner has gained two degrees southwards, and I now inform +you, that, conformably with the engagement signed by Mr. Jeorling, +four thousand dollars--that is two thousand dollars for each +degree--are due to you, and will be paid at the end of the +voyage." + +These words were greeted with some murmurs of satisfaction, but not +with cheers, except those of Hurliguerly the boatswain, and Endicott +the cook, which found no echo. + +On the 13th of January a conversation took place between the +boatswain and myself of a nature to justify my anxiety concerning +the temper of our crew. + +The men were at breakfast, with the exception of Drap and Stern. The +schooner was cutting the water under a stiff breeze. I was walking +between the fore and main masts, watching the great flights of birds +wheeling about the ship with deafening clangour, and the petrels +occasionally perching on our yards. No effort was made to catch or +shoot them; it would have been useless cruelty, since their oily and +stringy flesh is not eatable. + +At this moment Hurliguerly approached me, looked attentively at the +birds, and said,-- + +"I remark one thing, Mr. Jeorling." + +"What is it, boatswain?" + +"That these birds do not fly so directly south as they did up to +the present. Some of them are setting north." + +"I have noticed the same fact." + +"And I add, Mr. Jeorling, that those who are below there will come +back without delay." + +"And you conclude from this?" + +"I conclude that they feel the approach of winter." + +"Of winter?" + +"Undoubtedly." + +"No, no, boatswain; the temperature is so high that the birds +can't want to get to less cold regions so prematurely." + +"Oh! prematurely, Mr. Jeorling." + +"Yes, boatswain; do we not know that navigators have always been +able to frequent the Antarctic waters until the month of March?" + +"Not at such a latitude. Besides, there are precocious winters as +well as precocious summers. The fine season this year was full two +months in advance, and it is to be feared the bad season may come +sooner than usual." + +"That is very likely," I replied. "After all, it does not +signify to us, since our campaign will certainly be over in three +weeks." + +"If some obstacle does not arise beforehand, Mr. Jeorling." + +"And what obstacle?" + +"For instance, a continent stretching to the south and barring our +way." + +"A continent, Hurliguerly!" + +"I should not be at all surprised." + +"And, in fact, there would be nothing surprising in it." + +"As for the lands seen by Dirk Peters," said the boatswain, +"where the men of the _Jane_ might have landed on one or another of +them, I don't believe in them." + +"Why?" + +"Because William Guy, who can only have had a small craft at his +disposal, could not have got so far into these seas." + +"I do not feel quite so sure of that." + +Nevertheless, Mr. Jeorling--" + +"What would there be so surprising in William Guy's being +carried to land somewhere by the action of the currents? He did not +remain on board his boat for eight months, I suppose. His companions +and he may have been able to land on an island, or even on a +continent, and that is a sufficient motive for us to pursue our +search." + +"No doubt--but all are not of your opinion," replied +Hurliguerly, shaking his head. + +"I know," said I, "and that is what makes me most anxious. Is +the ill-feeling increasing?" + +"I fear so, Mr. Jeorling. The satisfaction of having gained +several hundreds of dollars is already lessened, and the prospect of +gaining a few more hundreds does not put a stop to disputes. And yet +the prize is tempting! From Tsalal Island to the pole, admitting +that we might get there, is six degrees. Now six degrees at two +thousand dollars each makes twelve thousand dollars for thirty men, +that is four hundred dollars a head. A nice little sum to slip into +one's pocket on the return of the _Halbrane_, but, notwithstanding, +that fellow Hearne works so wickedly upon his comrades that I +believe they are ready to ‘bout ship in spite of anybody." + +"I can believe that of the recruits, boatswain, but the old +crew--" + +"H--m! there are three or four of those who are beginning to +reflect, and they are not easy in their minds about the prolongation +of the voyage." + +"I fancy Captain Len Guy and his lieutenant will know how to get +themselves obeyed." + +"We shall see, Mr. Jeorling. But may it not be that our captain +himself will get disheartened; that the sense of his responsibility +will prevail, and that he will renounce his enterprise?" + +Yes! this was what I feared, and there was no remedy on that side. + +"As for my friend Endicott, Mr. Jeorling, I answer for him as for +myself. We would go to the end of the world--if the world has an +end--did the captain want to go there. True, we two, Dirk Peters +and yourself, are but a few to be a law to the others." + +"And what do you think of the half-breed?" I asked. + +"Well, our men appear to accuse him chiefly of the prolongation of +the voyage. You see, Mr. Jeorling, though you have a good deal to do +with it, you pay, and pay well, while this crazy fellow, Dirk +Peters, persists in asserting that his poor Pym is still +living--his poor Pym who was drowned, or frozen, or crushed--killed, +anyhow, one way or another, eleven years ago!" + +So completely was this my own belief that I never discussed the +subject with the half-breed. + +"You see, Mr. Jeorling," resumed the boatswain, "at the first +some curiosity was felt about Dirk Peters. Then, after he saved +Martin Holt, it was interest. Certainly, he was no more talkative +than before, and the bear came no oftener out of his den! But now we +know what he is, and no one likes him the better for that. At all +events it was he who induced our captain, by talking of land to the +south of Tsalal Island, to make this voyage, and it is owing to him +that he has reached the eighty-sixth degree of latitude." + +"That is quite true, boatswain." + +"And so, Mr. Jeorling, I am always afraid that one of these days +somebody will do Peters an ill turn." + +"Dirk Peters would defend himself, and I should pity the man who +laid a finger on him." + +"Quite so. It would not be good for anybody to be in his hands, +for they could bend iron! But then, all being against him, he would +be forced into the hold." + +"Well, well, we have not yet come to that, I hope, and I count on +you, Hurliguerly, to prevent any attempt against Dirk Peters. Reason +with your men. Make them understand that we have time to return to the +Falklands before the end of the fine season. Their reproaches must +not be allowed to provide the captain with an excuse for turning +back before the object is attained." + +"Count on me, Mr. Jeorling, I will serve you to the best of my +ability." + +"You will not repent of doing so, Hurliguerly. Nothing is easier +than to add a round 0 to the four hundred dollars which each man is +to have, if that man be something more than a sailor--even were his +functions simply those of boatswain on board the _Halbrane_." + +Nothing important occurred on the 13th and 14th, but a fresh fall in +the temperature took place. Captain Len Guy called my attention to +this, pointing out the flocks of birds continuously flying north. + +While he was speaking to me I felt that his last hopes were fading. +And who could wonder? Of the land indicated by the half-breed +nothing was seen, and we were already more than one hundred and +eighty miles from Tsalal Island. At every point of the compass was the +sea, nothing but the vast sea with its desert horizon which the +sun's disk had been nearing since the 21st of December, and would touch +on the 21st March, prior to disappearing during the six months of the +austral night. Honestly, was it possible to admit that William Guy and +his five companions could have accomplished such a distance on a frail +craft, and was there one chance in a hundred that they could ever be +recovered? + +On the 15th of January an observation most carefully taken gave 43° 13' +longitude and 88° 17' latitude. The _Halbrane_ was less than two +degrees from the pole. + +Captain Len Guy did not seek to conceal the result of this +observation, and the sailors knew enough of nautical calculation to +understand it. Besides, if the consequences had to be explained to +them, were not Holt and Hardy there to do this, and Hearne, to +exaggerate them to the utmost? + +During the afternoon I had indubitable proof that the sealing-master +had been working on the minds of the crew. The men, emerging at the +foot of the mainmast, talked in whispers and cast evil glances at +us. Two or three sailors made threatening gestures undisguisedly; +then arose such angry mutterings that West could not to be deaf to +them. + +He strode forward and called out: "Silence, there! The first man +who speaks will have to reckon with me!" + +Captain Len Guy was shut up in his cabin, but every moment I +expected to see him come out, give one last look around the waste of +waters, and then order the ship's course to be reversed. +Nevertheless, on the next day the schooner was sailing in the same +direction. Unfortunately--for the circumstance had some gravity--a +mist was beginning to come down on us. I could not keep still, I +confess. My apprehensions were redoubled. It was evident that West was +only awaiting the order to change the helm. What mortal anguish soever +the captain's must be, I understood too well that he would not give +that order without hesitation. + +For several days past I had not seen the half-breed, or, at least, I +had not exchanged a word with him. He was boycotted by the whole +crew, with the exception of the boatswain, who was careful to +address him, although he rarely got a word in return. Dirk Peters took +not the faintest notice of this state of things. He remained completely +absorbed in his own thoughts, yet, had he heard West give the word +to steer north, I know not to what acts of violence he might have been +driven. He seemed to avoid me; was this from a desire not to +compromise me? + +On the 17th, in the afternoon, however, Dirk Peters manifested an +intention of speaking to me, and never, no, never, could I have +imagined what I was to learn in that interview. + +It was about half-past two, and, not feeling well, I had gone to my +cabin, where the side window was open, while that at the back was +closed. I heard a knock at the door, and asked who was there. + +"Dirk Peters," was the reply. + +"You want to speak to me?" + +"Yes." + +"I am coming out." + +"If you please--I should prefer--may I come into your cabin?" + +"Come in." + +He entered, and shut the door behind him. + +Without rising I signed to him to seat himself in the arm-chair, but he +remained standing. + +"What do you want of me, Dirk Peters?" I asked at length, as he +seemed unable to make up his mind to speak. + +"I want to tell you something--because it seems well that you +should know it, and you only. In the crew--they must never know +it." + +"If it is a grave matter, and you fear any indiscretion, Dirk +Peters, why do you speak to me?" + +"If!--I must! Ah, yes! I must! It is impossible to keep it there! +It weighs on me like a stone." + +And Dirk Peters struck his breast violently. + +Then he resumed: + +"Yes! I am always afraid it may escape me during my sleep, and +that someone will hear it, for I dream of it, and in dreaming--" + +"You dream," I replied, "and of what?" + +"Of him, of him. Therefore it is that I sleep in corners, all +alone, for fear that his true name should be discovered." + +Then it struck me that the half-breed was perhaps about to respond +to an inquiry which I had not yet made--why he had gone to live at +the Falklands under the name of Hunt after leaving Illinois? + +I put the question to him, and he replied,-- + +"It is not that; no, it is not that I wish--" + +"I insist, Dirk Peters, and I desire to know in the first place +for what reason you did not remain in America, for what reason you +chose the Falklands--" + +"For what reason, sir? Because I wanted to get near Pym, my poor +Pym--because I hoped to find an opportunity at the Falklands of +embarking on a whaling ship bound for the southern sea." + +"But that name of Hunt?" + +"I would not bear my own name any longer--on account of the +affair of the _Grampus_." + +The half-breed was alluding to the scene of the "short straw" +(or lot-drawing) on board the American brig, when it was decided +between Augustus Barnard, Arthur Pym, Dirk Peters, and Parker, the +sailor, that one of the four should be sacrificed--as food for the +three others. I remembered the obstinate resistance of Arthur Pym, +and how it was impossible for him to refuse to take his part in +the tragedy about to be performed--he says this himself--and the +horrible act whose remembrance must poison the existence of all +those who had survived it. + +Oh, that lot-drawing! The "short straws" were little splinters +of wood of uneven length which Arthur Pym held in his hand. The +shortest was to designate him who should be immolated. And he speaks +of the sort of involuntary fierce desire to deceive his companions +that he felt--"to cheat" is the word he uses--but he did not "cheat," +and he asks pardon for having had the idea! Let us try to put +ourselves in his place! + +He made up his mind, and held out his hand, closed on the four +slips. Dirk Peters drew the first. Fate had favoured him. He had +nothing more to fear. Arthur Pym calculated that one more chance was +against him. Augustus Barnard drew in his turn. Saved, too, he! And now +Arthur Pym reckoned up the exact chances between Parker and himself. +At that moment all the ferocity of the tiger entered into his soul. He +conceived an intense and devilish hatred of his poor comrade, his +fellow-man. + +Five minutes elapsed before Parker dared to draw. At length Arthur +Pym, standing with closed eyes, not knowing whether the lot was for +or against him, felt a hand seize his own. It was the hand of Dirk +Peters. Arthur Pym had escaped death. And then the half-breed rushed +upon Parker and stabbed him in the back. The frightful repast +followed--immediately--and words are not sufficient to convey to +the mind the horror of the reality. + +Yes! I knew that hideous story, not a fable, as I had long believed. +This was what had happened on board the _Grampus_, on the 16th of +July, 1827, and vainly did I try to understand Dirk Peters' reason +for recalling it to my recollection. + +"Well, Dirk Peters," I said, "I will ask you, since you were +anxious to hide your name, what it was that induced you to reveal +it, when the _Halbrane_ was moored off Tsalal Island; why you did not +keep to the name of Hunt?" + +"Sir--understand me--there was hesitation about going +farther--they wanted to turn back. This was decided, and then I +thought that by telling who I was--Dirk Peters--of the _Grampus_--poor +Pym's companion--I should be heard; they would believe with me that he +was still living, they would go in search of him! And yet, it was a +serious thing to do--to acknowledge that I was Dirk Peters, he who had +killed Parker! But hunger, devouring hunger!" + +"Come, come, Dirk Peters," said I, "you exaggerate! If the lot +had fallen to you, you would have incurred the fate of Parker. You +cannot be charged with a crime." + +"Sir, would Parker's family speak of it as you do?" + +"His family! Had he then relations?" + +"Yes--and that is why Pym changed his name in the narrative. +Parker's name was not Parker--it was--" + +"Arthur Pym was right," I said, interrupting him quickly, "and +as for me, I do not wish to know Parker's real name. Keep this +secret." + +"No, I will tell it to you. It weighs too heavily on me, and I +shall be relieved, perhaps, when I have told you, Mr. Jeorling." + +"No, Dirk Peters, no!" + +"His name was Holt--Ned Holt." + +"Holt!" I exclaimed, "the same name as our sailing-master's." + +"Who is his own brother, sir." + +"Martin Holt?" + +"Yes--understand me--his brother." + +"But he believes that Ned Holt perished in the wreck of the +_Grampus_ with the rest." + +"It was not so, and if he learned that I--" + +Just at that instant a violent shock flung me out of my bunk. + +The schooner had made such a lurch to the port side that she was +near foundering. + +I heard an angry voice cry out: + +"What dog is that at the helm?" + +It was the voice of West, and the person he addressed was Hearne. + +I rushed out of my cabin. + +"Have you let the wheel go?" repeated West, who had seized +Hearne by the collar of his jersey. + +"Lieutenant--I don't know--" + +"Yes, I tell you, you have let it go. A little more and the +schooner would have capsized under full sail." + +"Gratian," cried West, calling one of the sailors, "take the +helm; and you, Hearne, go down into the hold." + +On a sudden the cry of "Land!" resounded, and every eye was +turned southwards. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. +LAND? + + +"Land" is the only word to be found at the beginning of the +nineteenth chapter of Edgar Poe's book. I thought it would be a +good idea--placing after it a note of interrogation--to put it as +a heading to this portion of our narrative. + +Did that word, dropped from our fore-masthead, indicate an island or +a continent? And, whether a continent or an island, did not a +disappointment await us? Could they be there whom we had come to +seek? And Arthur Pym, who was dead, unquestionably dead, in spite of +Dirk Peters' assertions, had he ever set foot on this land? + +When the welcome word resounded on board the _Jane_ on the 17th +January, 1828--(a day full of incidents according to Arthur Pym's +diary)--it was succeeded by "Land on the starboard bow!" Such +might have been the signal from the masthead of the _Halbrane_. + +The outlines of land lightly drawn above the sky line were visible +on this side. + +The land announced to the sailors of the _Jane_ was the wild and +barren Bennet Islet. Less than one degree south of it lay Tsalal +Island, then fertile, habitable and inhabited, and on which Captain +Len Guy had hoped to meet his fellow-countrymen. But what would this +unknown island, five degrees farther off in the depths of the +southern sea, be for our schooner? Was it the goal so ardently +desired and so earnestly sought for? Were the two brothers, William +and Len Guy, to meet at this place? Would the _Halbrane_ come there to +the end of a voyage whose success would be definitely secured by the +restoration of the survivors of the _Jane_ to their country? + +I repeat that I was just like the half-breed. Our aim was not merely +to discover the survivors, nor was success in this matter the only +success we looked for. However, since land was before our eyes, we +must get nearer to it first. + +That cry of "Land" caused an immediate diversion of our +thoughts. I no longer dwelt upon the secret Dirk Peters had just +told me--and perhaps the half-breed forgot it also, for he rushed +to the bow and fixed his eyes immovably on the horizon. As for West, +whom nothing could divert from his duty, he repeated his commands. +Gratian came to take the helm, and Hearne was shut up in the hold. + +On the whole this was a just punishment, and none of the old crew +protested against it, for Hearne's inattention or awkwardness had +really endangered the schooner, though for a short time only. + +Five or six of the Falklands sailors did, however, murmur a little. + +A sign from the mate silenced them, and they returned at once to +their posts. + +Needless to say, Captain Len Guy, upon hearing the cry of the +look-out man, had tumbled up from his cabin and eagerly examined +this land at ten or twelve miles distance. + +As I have said, I was no longer thinking about the secret Dirk +Peters had confided to me. Besides, so long as the secret remained +between us two--and neither would betray it--there would be +nothing to fear. But if ever an unlucky accident were to reveal to +Martin Holt that his brother's name had been changed to Parker, +that the unfortunate man had not perished in the shipwreck of the +_Grampus_, but had been sacrificed to save his companions from +perishing of hunger; that Dirk Peters, to whom Martin Holt himself +owed his life, had killed him with his own hand, what might not +happen then? This was the reason why the half-breed shrank from any +expression of thanks from Martin Holt--why he avoided Martin Holt, +the victim's brother. + +The boatswain had just struck six bells. The schooner was sailing +with the caution demanded by navigation in unknown seas. There might +be shoals or reefs barely hidden under the surface on which she +might run aground or be wrecked. As things stood with the _Halbrane_, +and even admitting that she could be floated again, an accident +would have rendered her return impossible before the winter set in. +We had urgent need that every chance should be in our favour and not +one against us. + +West had given orders to shorten sail. When the boatswain had furled +the top-gallant-sail, the top-sail and royal, the _Halbrane_ remained +under her mainsail, her fore-sail and her jib: sufficient canvas to +cover the distance that separated her from land in a few hours. +Captain Len Guy immediately heaved the lead, which showed a depth of +twenty fathoms. Several other soundings showed that the coast, which +was very steep, was probably prolonged like a wall under the water. +Nevertheless, as the bottom might happen to rise sharply instead of +following the slope of the coast, we did not venture to proceed without +the sounding line in hand. + +The weather was still beautiful, although the sky was overcast by a +mist from south-east to south-west. Owing to this there was some +difficulty in identifying the vague outlines which stood out like +floating vapour in the sky, disappearing and then reappearing +between the breaks of the mist. + +However, we all agreed to regard this land as being from twenty-five +to thirty fathoms in height, at least at its highest part. + +No! we would not admit that we were the victims of a delusion, and +yet our uneasy minds feared that it might be so! + +Is it not natural, after all, for the heart to be assailed by a +thousand apprehensions as we near the end of any enterprise? At this +thought my mind became confused and dreamy. The _Halbrane_ seemed to +be reduced to the dimensions of a small boat lost in this boundless +space--the contrary of that limitless sea of which Edgar Poe +speaks, where, like a living body, the ship grows larger. + +When we have charts, or even sailing directions to instruct us +concerning the hydrography of the coasts, the nature of the +landfalls, the bays and the creeks, we may sail along boldly. In +every other region, the master of a ship must not defer the order to +cast anchor near the shore until the morrow. But, where we were, +what an amount of prudence was necessary! And yet, no manifest +obstacle was before us. Moreover, we had no cause to fear that the +light would fail us during the sunny hours of the night. At this season +the sun did not set so soon under the western horizon, and its rays +bathed the vast Antarctic zone in unabated light. + +From that day forward the ship's log recorded that the temperature +fell continuously. The thermometer in the air and in the shade did +not mark more than 32° (0° C.), and when plunged into water it +only indicated 26° (3° 33' C. below 0°). What could be the +cause of this fall, since we were at the height of the southern +summer? The crew were obliged to resume their woollen clothing, +which they had left off a month previously. The schooner, however, +was sailing before the wind, and these first cold blasts were less +keenly felt. Yet we recognized the necessity of reaching our goal as +soon as possible. To linger in this region or to expose ourselves to +the danger of wintering out would be to tempt Providence! + +Captain Len Guy tested the direction of the current repeatedly by heavy +lead lines, and discovered that it was beginning to deviate from its +former course. + +"Whether it is a continent," said he, "that lies before us, or +whether it is an island, we have at present no means of determining. +If it be a continent, we must conclude that the current has an issue +towards the south-east." + +"And it is quite possible," I replied, "that the solid part of +the Antarctic region may be reduced to a mere polar mound. In any +case, it is well to note any of those observations which are likely +to be accurate." + +"That is just what I am doing, Mr. Jeorling, and we shall bring +back a mass of information about this portion of the southern sea +which will prove useful to navigators." + +"If ever any venture to come so far south, captain! We have +penetrated so far, thanks to the help of particular circumstances, +the earliness of the summer season, an abnormal temperature and a +rapid thaw. Such conditions may only occur once in twenty or fifty +years!" + +"Wherefore, Mr. Jeorling, I thank Providence for this, and hope +revives in me to some extent. As the weather has been constantly +fine, what is there to make it impossible for my brother and my +fellow-countrymen to have landed on this coast, whither the wind and +the tide bore them? What our schooner has done, their boat may have +done! They surely did not start on a voyage which might be prolonged to +an indefinite time without a proper supply of provisions! Why should +they not have found the resources as those afforded to them by the +island of Tsalal during many long years? They had ammunition and +arms elsewhere. Fish abound in these waters, water-fowl also. Oh +yes! my heart is full of hope, and I wish I were a few hours +older!" + +Without being quite so sanguine as Len Guy, I was glad to see he had +regained his hopeful mood. Perhaps, if his investigations were +successful, I might be able to have them continued in Arthur Pym's +interest--even into the heart of this strange land which we were +approaching. + +The _Halbrane_ was going along slowly on these clear waters, which +swarmed with fish belonging to the same species as we had already +met. The sea-birds were more numerous, and were evidently not +frightened; for they kept flying round the mast, or perching in the +yards. Several whitish ropes about five or six feet long were +brought on board. They were chaplets formed of millions of +pearly shell-fish. + +Whales, spouting jets of feathery water from their blow-holes, +appeared at a distance, and I remarked that all of them took a +southerly direction. There was therefore reason to believe that the +sea extended far and wide in that direction. + +The schooner covered two or three miles of her course without any +increase of speed. This coast evidently stretched from north-west to +south-east. Nevertheless, the telescopes revealed no distinctive +features--even after three hours' navigation. + +The crew, gathered together on the forecastle, were looking on +without revealing their impressions. West, after going aloft to the +fore-cross-trees, where he had remained ten minutes, had reported +nothing precise. Stationed at the port side, leaning my elbows on +the bulwarks, I closely watched the sky line, broken only towards +the east. + +At this moment the boatswain rejoined me, and without preface said: + +"Will you allow me to give you my opinion, Mr. Jeorling?" + +"Give it, boatswain," I replied, "at the risk of my not +adopting it if I don't agree with it." + +"It is correct, and according as we get nearer one must really be +blind not to adopt it!" + +"And what idea have you got?" + +"That it is not land which lies before us, Mr. Jeorling!" + +"What is it you are saying?" + +"Look attentively, putting one finger before your eyes--look +there--out a--starboard." + +I did as Hurliguerly directed. + +"Do you see?" he began again. "May I lose my liking for my +grog if these heights do not change place, not with regard to the +schooner, but with regard to themselves!" + +"And what do you conclude from this?" + +"That they are moving icebergs." + +"Icebergs?" + +"Sure enough, Mr. Jeorling." + +Was not the boatswain mistaken? Were we in for a disappointment? +Were there only drifting ice-mountains in the distance instead of a +shore? + +Presently, there was no doubt on the subject; for some time past the +crew had no longer believed in the existence of land in that direction. + +Ten minutes afterwards, the man in the crow's-nest announced that +several icebergs were coming from the north-west, in an oblique +direction, into the course of the _Halbrane_. + +This news produced a great sensation on board. Our last hope was +suddenly extinguished. And what a blow to Captain Len Guy! We should +have to seek this land of the austral zone under higher latitudes +without being sure of ever coming across it! + +And then the cry, "Back ship! back ship!" resounded almost +unanimously on board the _Halbrane_. + +Yes, indeed, the recruits from the Falklands were demanding that we +should turn back, although Hearne was not there to fan the flame of +insubordination, and I must acknowledge that the greater part of the +old tars seemed to agree with them. + +West awaited his chief's orders, not daring to impose silence. + +Gratian was at the helm, ready to give a turn to the wheel, whilst his +comrades with their hands on the cleats were preparing to ease off +the sheets. + +Dirk Peters remained immovable, leaning against the fore-mast, his +head down, his body bent, and his mouth set firm. Not a word passed +his lips. + +But now he turned towards me, and what a look of mingled wrath and +entreaty he gave me! + +I don't know what irresistible motive induced me to interfere +personally, and once again to protest! A final argument had just +crossed my mind--an argument whose weight could not be disputed. + +So I began to speak, and I did so with such conviction that none +tried to interrupt me. + +The substance of what I said was as follows:-- + +"No! all hope must not be abandoned. Land cannot be far off. The +icebergs which are formed in the open sea by the accumulation of ice +are not before us. These icebergs must have broken off from the +solid base of a continent or an island. Now, since the thaw begins +at this season of the year, the drift will last for only a short +time. Behind them we must meet the coast on which they were formed. +In another twenty-four hours, or forty-eight at the most, if the +land does not appear, Captain Len Guy will steer to the north again!" + +Had I convinced the crew, or ought I to take advantage of Hearne's +absence and of the fact that he could not communicate with them to +make them understand that they were being deceived, and to repeat to +them that it would endanger the schooner if our course were now to +be reversed. + +The boatswain came to my help, and in a good-humoured voice +exclaimed,-- + +"Very well reasoned, and for my part I accept Mr. Jeorling's +opinion. Assuredly, land is near! If we seek it beyond those +icebergs, we shall discover it without much hard work, or great +danger! What is one degree farther south, when it is a question of +putting a hundred additional dollars into one's pocket? And let us +not forget that if they are acceptable when they go in, they are +none the less so when they come out!" + +Upon this, Endicott, the cook, came to the aid of his friend the +boatswain. + +"Yes, very good things indeed are dollars!" cried he, showing +two rows of shining white teeth. + +Did the crew intend to yield to Hurliguerly's argument, or would +they try to resist if the _Halbrane_ went on in the direction of the +icebergs? + +Captain Len Guy took up his telescope again, and turned it upon +these moving masses; he observed them with much attention, and cried +out in a loud voice,-- + +"Steer south-sou'-west!" + +West gave orders to execute the manoeuvres. The sailors hesitated an +instant. Then, recalled to obedience, they began to brace the yards +and slack the sheets, and the schooner increased her speed. + +When the operation was over, I went up to Hurliguerly, and drawing +him aside, I said,-- + +"Thank you, boatswain." + +"Ah, Mr. Jeorling," he replied, shaking his head, "it is all +very fine for this time, but you must not do it again! Everyone +would turn against me, even Endicott, perhaps." + +"I have urged nothing which is not at least probable," I +answered sharply. + +"I don't deny that fact, Mr. Jeorling." + +"Yes, Hurliguerly, yes--I believe what I have said, and I have no +doubt but that we shall really see the land beyond the icebergs." + +"Just possible, Mr. Jeorling, quite possible. But it must appear +before two days, or, on the word of a boatswain, nothing can prevent +us from putting about!" + +During the next twenty-four hours the _Halbrane_ took a +south-south-westerly course. Nevertheless, her direction must have +been frequently changed and her speed decreased in avoiding the ice. +The navigation became very difficult so soon as the schooner headed +towards the line of the bergs, which it had to cut obliquely. +However, there were none of the packs which blocked up all access to +the iceberg on the 67th parallel. The enormous heaps were melting +away with majestic slowness. The ice-blocks appeared "quite new" +(to employ a perfectly accurate expression), and perhaps they had +only been formed some days. However, with a height of one hundred +and fifty feet, their bulk must have been calculated by millions of +tons. West was watching closely in order to avoid collisions, and +did not leave the deck even for an instant. + +Until now, Captain Len Guy had always been able to rely upon the +indications of the compass. The magnetic pole, still hundreds of +miles off, had no influence on the compass, its direction being +east. The needle remained steady, and might be trusted. + +So, in spite of my conviction, founded, however, on very serious +arguments, there was no sign of land, and I was wondering whether it +would not be better to steer more to the west, at the risk of +removing the _Halbrane_ from that extreme point where the meridians of +the globe cross each other. + +Thus, as the hours went by--and I was only allowed forty-eight--it +was only too plain that lack of courage prevailed, and that everyone +was inclined to be insubordinate. After another day and a half, I could +no longer contend with the general discontent. The schooner must +ultimately retrace her course towards the north. + +The crew were working in silence, whilst West was giving sharp short +orders for manoeuvring through the channels, sometimes luffing in +order to avoid a collision, now bearing away almost square before +the wind. Nevertheless, in spite of a close watch, in spite of the +skill of the sailors, in spite of the prompt execution of the +manoeuvres, dangerous friction against the hull, which left long +traces of the ridge of the icebergs, occurred. And, in truth, the +bravest could not repress a feeling of terror when thinking that the +planking might have given way and the sea have invaded us. + +The base of these floating ice-mountains was very steep, so that it +would have been impossible for us to land upon one. Moreover, we saw +no seals--these were usually very numerous where the ice-fields +abounded--nor even a flock of the screeching penguins which, on +other occasions, the _Halbrane_ sent diving by myriads as she passed +through them; the birds themselves seemed rarer and wilder. Dread, +from which none of us could escape, seemed to come upon us from +these desolate and deserted regions. How could we still entertain a +hope that the survivors of the _Jane_ had found shelter, and obtained +means of existence in those awful solitudes? + +And if the _Halbrane_ were also shipwrecked, would there remain any +evidence of her fate? + +Since the previous day, from the moment our southern course had been +abandoned, to cut the line of the icebergs, a change had taken place +in the demeanour of the half-breed. Nearly always crouched down at +the foot of the fore-mast, looking afar into the boundless space, he +only got up in order to lend a hand to some manoeuvre, and without +any of his former vigilance or zeal. Not that he had ceased to +believe that his comrade of the _Jane_ was still living--that thought +never even came into his mind! But he felt by instinct that the +traces of poor Pym were not to be recovered by following this course. + +"Sir," he would have said to me, "this is not the way! No, +this is not the way!" And how could I have answered him? + +Towards seven o'clock in the evening a rather thick mist arose; +this would tend to make the navigation of the schooner difficult and +dangerous. + +The day, with its emotions of anxiety and alternatives, had worn me +out. So I returned to my cabin, where I threw myself on my bunk in +my clothes. + +But sleep did not come to me, owing to my besetting thoughts. I +willingly admit that the constant reading of Edgar Poe's works, +and reading them in this place in which his heroes delighted, had +exercised an influence on me which I did not fully recognize. + +To-morrow, the forty-eight hours would be up, the last concession +which the crew had made to my entreaties. + +"Things are not going as you wish?" the boatswain said to me +just as I was leaving the deck. + +No, certainly not, since land was not to be seen behind the fleet of +icebergs. If no sign of a coast appeared between these moving +masses, Captain Len Guy would steer north to-morrow. + +Ah! were I only master of the schooner! If I could have bought it +even at the price of all my fortune, if these men had been my slaves +to drive by the lash, the _Halbrane_ should never have given up this +voyage, even if it led her so far as the point above which flames +the Southern Cross. + +My mind was quite upset, and teemed with a thousand thoughts, a +thousand regrets, a thousand desires! I wanted to get up, but a +heavy hand held me down in my bunk! And I longed to leave this cabin +where I was struggling against nightmare in my half-sleep, to launch +one of the boats of the _Halbrane_, to jump into it with Dirk Peters, +who would not hesitate about following me, and so abandon both of us +to the current running south. + +And lo! I was doing this in a dream. It is to-morrow! Captain Len +Guy has given orders to reverse our course, after a last glance at +the horizon. One of the boats is in tow. I warn the half-breed. We +creep along without being seen. We cut the painter. Whilst the +schooner sails on ahead, we stay astern and the current carries us +off. + +Thus we drift on the sea without hindrance! At length our boat +stops. Land is there. I see a sort of sphinx surmounting the +southern peak--the sea-sphinx. I go to him. I question him. He +discloses the secrets of these mysterious regions to me. And then, +the phenomena whose reality Arthur Pym asserted appear around the +mythic monster. The curtain of flickering vapours, striped with +luminous rays, is rent asunder. And it is not a face of superhuman +grandeur which arises before my astonished eyes: it is Arthur Pym, +fierce guardian of the south pole, flaunting the ensign of the +United States in those high latitudes! + +Was this dream suddenly interrupted, or was it changed by a freak of +my brain? I cannot tell, but I felt as though I had been suddenly +awakened. It seemed as though a change had taken place in the motion +of the schooner, which was sliding along on the surface of the quiet +sea, with a slight list to starboard. And yet, there was neither +rolling nor pitching. Yes, I felt myself carried off as though my +bunk were the car of an air-balloon. I was not mistaken, and I had +fallen from dreamland into reality. + +Crash succeeded crash overhead. I could not account for them. Inside +my cabin the partitions deviated from the vertical in such a way as +to make one believe that the _Halbrane_ had fallen over on her beam +ends. Almost immediately, I was thrown out of my bunk and barely +escaped splitting my skull against the corner of the table. However, +I got up again, and, clinging on to the edge of the door frame, I +propped myself against the door. + +At this instant the bulwarks began to crack and the port side of the +ship was torn open. + +Could there have been a collision between the schooner and one of +those gigantic floating masses which West was unable to avoid in the +mist? + +Suddenly loud shouts came from the after-deck, and then screams of +terror, in which the maddened voices of the crew joined. + +At length there came a final crash, and the _Halbrane_ remained +motionless. + +I had to crawl along the floor to reach the door and gain the deck. +Captain Len Guy having already left his cabin, dragged himself on +his knees, so great was the list to port, and caught on as best he +could. + +In the fore part of the ship, between the forecastle and the +fore-mast, many heads appeared. + +Dirk Peters, Hardy, Martin Holt and Endicott, the latter with his +black face quite vacant, were clinging to the starboard shrouds. + +A man came creeping up to me, because the slope of the deck +prevented him from holding himself upright: it was Hurliguerly, +working himself along with his hands like a top-man on a yard. + +Stretched out at full length, my feet propped up against the jamb of +the door, I held out my hand to the boatswain, and helped him, not +without difficulty, to hoist himself up near me. + +"What is wrong?" I asked. + +"A stranding, Mr. Jeorling." + +"We are ashore!" + +"A shore presupposes land," replied the boatswain ironically, +"and so far as land goes there was never any except in that rascal +Dirk Peters' imagination." + +"But tell me--what has happened?" + +"We came upon an iceberg in the middle of the fog, and were unable +to keep clear of it." + +"An iceberg, boatswain?" + +"Yes, an iceberg, which has chosen just now to turn head over +heels. In turning, it struck the _Halbrane_ and carried it off just as +a battledore catches a shuttlecock, and now here we are, stranded at +certainly one hundred feet above the level of the Antarctic Sea." + +Could one have imagined a more terrible conclusion to the +adventurous voyage of the _Halbrane_? + +In the middle of these remote regions our only means of transport +had just been snatched from its natural element, and carried off by +the turn of an iceberg to a height of more than one hundred feet! +What a conclusion! To be swallowed up in a polar tempest, to be +destroyed in a fight with savages, to be crushed in the ice, such +are the dangers to which any ship engaged in the polar seas is +exposed! But to think that the _Halbrane_ had been lifted by a +floating mountain just as that mountain was turning over, was +stranded and almost at its summit--no! such a thing seemed quite +impossible. + +I did not know whether we could succeed in letting down the schooner +from this height with the means we had at our disposal. But I did +know that Captain Len Guy, the mate and the older members of the +crew, when they had recovered from their first fright, would not +give up in despair, no matter how terrible the situation might be; +of that I had no doubt whatsoever! They would all look to the +general safety; as for the measures to be taken, no one yet knew +anything. A foggy veil, a sort of greyish mist still hung over the +iceberg. Nothing could be seen of its enormous mass except the +narrow craggy cleft in which the schooner was wedged, nor even what +place it occupied in the middle of the ice-fleet drifting towards +the south-east. + +Common prudence demanded that we should quit the _Halbrane_, which +might slide down at a sharp shake of the iceberg. Were we even +certain that the latter had regained its position on the surface of +the sea? Was her stability secure? Should we not be on the look-out +for a fresh upheaval? And if the schooner were to fall into the +abyss, which of us could extricate himself safe and sound from such +a fall, and then from the final plunge into the depths of the ocean? + +In a few minutes the crew had abandoned the _Halbrane_. Each man +sought for refuge on the ice-slopes, awaiting the time when the +iceberg should be freed from mist. The oblique rays from the sun did +not succeed in piercing it, and the red disk could hardly be +perceived through the opaque mass. + +However, we could distinguish each other at about twelve feet apart. +As for the _Halbrane_, she looked like a confused blackish mass +standing out sharply against the whiteness of the ice. + +We had now to ascertain whether any of those who were on the deck at +the time of the catastrophe had been thrown over the bulwarks and +precipitated into the sea? + +By Captain Len Guy's orders all the sailors then present joined +the group in which I stood with the mate, the boatswain, Hardy and +Martin Holt. + +So far, this catastrophe had cost us five men--these were the first +since our departure from Kerguelen, but were they to be the last? + +There was no doubt that these unfortunate fellows had perished, +because we called them in vain, and in vain we sought for them, when +the fog abated, along the sides of the iceberg, at every place where +they might have been able to catch on to a projection. + +When the disappearance of the five men had been ascertained, we fell +into despair. Then we felt more keenly than before the dangers which +threaten every expedition to the Antarctic zone. + +"What about Hearne?" said a voice. + +Martin Holt pronounced the name at a moment when there was general +silence. Had the sealing-master been crushed to death in the narrow +part of the hold where he was shut up? + +[Illustration: The _Halbrane_ fast in the iceberg.] + +West rushed towards the schooner, hoisted himself on board by means +of a rope hanging over the bows, and gained the hatch which gives +access to that part of the hold. + +We waited silent and motionless to learn the fate of Hearne, +although the evil spirit of the crew was but little worthy of our +pity. + +And yet, how many of us were then thinking that if we had heeded his +advice, and if the schooner had taken the northern course, a whole +crew would not have been reduced to take refuge on a drifting +ice-mountain! I scarcely dared to calculate my own share of the vast +responsibility, I who had so vehemently insisted on the prolongation +of the voyage. + +At length the mate reappeared on deck and Hearne followed him! By a +miracle, neither the bulkheads, nor the ribs, nor the planking had +yielded at the place where the sealing-master was confined. + +Hearne rejoined his comrades without opening his lips, and we had no +further trouble about him. + +Towards six o'clock in the morning the fog cleared off, owing to a +marked fall in the temperature. We had no longer to do with +completely frozen vapour, but had to deal with the phenomenon called +frost-rime, which often occurs in these high latitudes. Captain Len +Guy recognized it by the quantity of prismatic threads, the point +following the wind which roughened the light ice-crust deposited on +the sides of the iceberg. Navigators know better than to confound +this frost-rime with the hoar frost of the temperate zones, which +only freezes when it has been deposited on the surface of the soil. + +We were now enabled to estimate the size of the solid mass on which +we clustered like flies on a sugar-loaf, and the schooner, seen from +below, looked no bigger than the yawl of a trading vessel. + +This iceberg of between three and four hundred fathoms in +circumference measured from 130 to 140 feet high. According to all +calculations, therefore, its depth would be four or five times +greater, and it would consequently weigh millions of tons. + +This is what had happened: + +The iceberg, having been melted away at its base by contact with +warmer waters, had risen little by little; its centre of gravity had +become displaced, and its equilibrium could only be re-established +by a sudden capsize, which had lifted up the part that had been +underneath above the sea-level. The _Halbrane_, caught in this +movement, was hoisted as by an enormous lever. Numbers of icebergs +capsize thus on the polar seas, and form one of the greatest dangers +to which approaching vessels are exposed. + +Our schooner was caught in a hollow on the west side of the iceberg. +She listed to starboard with her stern raised and her bow lowered. +We could not help thinking that the slightest shake would cause her +to slide along the slope of the iceberg into the sea. The collision +had been so violent as to stave in some of the planks of her hull. +After the first collision, the galley situated before the fore-mast +had broken its fastenings. The door between Captain Len Guy's and +the mate's cabins was torn away from the hinges. The topmast and +the top-gallant-mast had come down after the back-stays parted, and +fresh fractures could plainly be seen as high as the cap of the +masthead. + +Fragments of all kinds, yards, spars, a part of the sails, breakers, +cases, hen-coops, were probably floating at the foot of the mass and +drifting with it. + +The most alarming part of our situation was the fact that of the two +boats belonging to the _Halbrane_, one had been stove in when we +grounded, and the other, the larger of the two, was still hanging on +by its tackles to the starboard davits. Before anything else was +done this boat had to be put in a safe place, because it might prove +our only means of escape. + +As a result of the first examination, we found that the lower masts +had remained in their places, and might be of use if ever we +succeeded in releasing the schooner. But how were we to release her +from her bed in the ice and restore her to her natural element? + +When I found myself with Captain Len Guy, the mate, and the +boatswain, I questioned them on this subject. + +"I agree with you," replied West, "that the operation involves +great risks, but since it is indispensable, we will accomplish it. I +think it will be necessary to dig out a sort of slide down to the +base of the iceberg." + +"And without the delay of a single day," added Captain Len Guy. + +"Do you hear, boatswain?" said Jem West. "Work begins to-day." + +"I hear, and everyone will set himself to the task," replied +Hurliguerly. "If you allow me, I shall just make one observation, +captain." + +"What is it?" + +"Before beginning the work, let us examine the hull and see what +the damage is, and whether it can be repaired. For what use would it +be to launch a ship stripped of her planks, which would go to the +bottom at once?" + +We complied with the boatswain's just demand. + +The fog having cleared off, a bright sun then illumined the eastern +side of the iceberg, whence the sea was visible round a large part +of the horizon. Here the sides of the iceberg showed rugged +projections, ledges, shoulders, and even flat instead of smooth +surfaces, giving no foothold. However, caution would be necessary in +order to avoid the falling of those unbalanced blocks, which a +single shock might set loose. And, as a matter of fact, during the +morning, several of these blocks did roll into the sea with a +frightful noise just like an avalanche. + +On the whole, the iceberg seemed to be very steady on its new base. +So long as the centre of gravity was below the level of the +water-line, there was no fear of a fresh capsize. + +I had not yet had an opportunity of speaking to Dirk Peters since +the catastrophe. As he had answered to his name, I knew he was not +numbered among the victims. At this moment, I perceived him standing +on a narrow projection; needless to specify the direction in which +his eyes were turned. + +Captain Len Guy, the mate, the boatswain, Hardy, and Martin Holt, +whom I accompanied, went up again towards the schooner in order to +make a minute investigation of the hull. On the starboard side the +operation would be easy enough, because the _Halbrane_ had a list to +the opposite side. On the port side we would have to slide along to +the keel as well as we could by scooping out the ice, in order to +insure the inspection of every part of the planking. + +After an examination which lasted two hours, it was discovered that +the damage was of little importance, and could be repaired in a +short time. Two or three planks only were wrenched away by the +collision. In the inside the skin was intact, the ribs not having +given way. Our vessel, constructed for the polar seas, had resisted +where many others less solidly built would have been dashed to +pieces. The rudder had indeed been unshipped, but that could easily +be set right. + +Having finished our inspection inside and outside, we agreed that +the damage was less considerable than we feared, and on that subject +we became reassured. Reassured! Yes, if we could only succeed in +getting the schooner afloat again. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. +"UNMERCIFUL DISASTER." + + +In the morning, after breakfast, it was decided that the men should +begin to dig a sloping bed which would allow the _Halbrane_ to slide +to the foot of the iceberg. Would that Heaven might grant success to +the operation, for who could contemplate without terror having to +brave the severity of the austral winter, and to pass six months +under such conditions as ours on a vast iceberg, dragged none could +tell whither? Once the winter had set in, none of us could have +escaped from that most terrible of fates--dying of cold. + +At this moment, Dirk Peters, who was observing the horizon from +south to east at about one hundred paces off, cried out in a rough +voice: "Lying to!" + +Lying to? What could the half-breed mean by that, except that the +floating mass had suddenly ceased to drift? As for the cause of this +stoppage, it was neither the moment to investigate it, nor to ask +ourselves what the consequences were likely to be. + +"It is true, however," cried the boatswain. "The iceberg is +not stirring, and perhaps has not stirred since it capsized!" + +"How?" said I, "it no longer changes its place?" + +"No," replied the mate, "and the proof is that the others, +drifting on, are leaving it behind!" + +And, in fact, whilst five or six icebergs were descending towards +the south, ours was as motionless as though it had been stranded on +a shoal. + +The simplest explanation was that the new base had encountered +ground at the bottom of the sea to which it now adhered, and would +continue to adhere, unless the submerged part rose in the water so +as to cause a second capsize. + +This complicated matters seriously, because the dangers of positive +immobility were such that the chances of drifting were preferable. +At least, in the latter case there was some hope of coming across a +continent or an island, or even (if the currents did not change) of +crossing the boundaries of the austral region. + +Here we were, then, after three months of this terrible voyage! Was +there now any question of trying to save William Guy, his comrades +on the _Jane_, and Arthur Pym? Was it not for our own safety that any +means at our disposal should be employed? And could it be wondered +at were the sailors of the _Halbrane_ to rebel, were they to listen to +Hearne's suggestions, and make their officers, or myself +especially, responsible for the disasters of this expedition? + +Moreover, what was likely to take place, since, notwithstanding +their losses, the followers of the sealing-master were still a +majority of the ship's company? + +This question I could clearly see was occupying the thoughts of +Captain Len Guy and West. + +Again, although the recruits from the Falklands formed only a total +of fourteen men, as against the twelve of the old crew, was it not +to be feared that some of the latter would take Hearne's side? +What if Hearne's people, urged by despair, were already thinking +of seizing the only boat we now possessed, setting off towards the +north, and leaving us on this iceberg? It was, then, of great +importance that our boat should be put in safety and closely watched. + +A marked change had taken place in Captain Len Guy since the recent +occurrences. He seemed to be transformed upon finding himself face +to face with the dangers which menaced us. Up to that time he had +been solely occupied in searching for his fellow-countrymen; he had +handed over the command of the schooner to West, and he could not +have given it to anyone more zealous and more capable. But from this +date he resumed his position as master of the ship, and used it with +the energy required by the circumstances; in a word, he again became +sole master on board, after God. + +At his command the crew were drawn up around him on a flat spot a +little to the left of the _Halbrane_. In that place the following were +assembled:--on the seniors' side: Martin Holt and Hardy, Rogers, +Francis, Gratian, Bury, Stern, the cook (Endicott), and I may add +Dirk Peters; on the side of the new-comers, Hearne and the thirteen +other Falkland sailors. The latter composed a distinct group; the +sealing-master was their spokesman and exercised a baneful influence +over them. + +Captain Len Guy cast a stern glance upon the men and said in a sharp +tone: + +"Sailors of the _Halbrane_, I must first speak to you of our lost +companions. Five of us have just perished in this catastrophe." + +"We are waiting to perish in our turn, in these seas, where we +have been dragged in spite of--" + +"Be silent, Hearne," cried West, pale with anger, "or if +not--" + +"Hearne has said what he had to say," Captain Len Guy continued, +coldly. "Now it is said, and I advise him not to interrupt me a +second time!" + +The sealing-master might possibly have ventured on an answer, for he +felt that he was backed by the majority of the crew; but Martin Holt +held him back, and he was silent. + +Captain Len Guy then took off his hat and pronounced the following +words with an emotion that affected us to the bottom of our hearts:-- + +"We must pray for those who have died in this dangerous voyage, +which was undertaken in the name of humanity. May God be pleased to +take into consideration the fact that they devoted their lives to +their fellow-creatures, and may He not be insensible to our prayers! +Kneel down, sailors of the _Halbrane_!" + +They all knelt down on the icy surface, and the murmurs of prayer +ascended towards heaven. + +We waited for Captain Len Guy to rise before we did so. + +"Now," he resumed, "after those who are dead come those who +have survived. To them I say that they must obey me, whatever my +orders may be, and even in our present situation I shall not +tolerate any hesitation or opposition. The responsibility for the +general safety is mine, and I will not yield any of it to anyone. I +am master here, as on board--" + +"On board--when there is no longer a ship," muttered the +sealing-master. + +"You are mistaken, Hearne, the vessel is there, and we will put it +back into the sea. Besides, if we had only a boat, I am the captain +of it. Let him beware who forgets this!" + +That day, Captain Len Guy, having taken the height of the sun by the +sextant and fixed the hour by the chronometer (both of these +instruments had escaped destruction in the collision), obtained the +following position of his ship:-- + +South latitude: 88° 55'. + +West longitude: 39° 12'. + +The _Halbrane_ was only at 1° 5'--about 65 miles--from the south +pole. + +"All hands to work," was the captain's order that afternoon, +and every one obeyed it with a will. There was not a moment to lose, +as the question of time was more important than any other. So far +as provisions were concerned, there was enough in the schooner for +eighteen months on full rations, so we were not threatened with +hunger, nor with thirst either, notwithstanding that owing to the +water-casks having been burst in the collision, their contents had +escaped through their staves. Luckily, the barrels of gin, whisky, +beer, and wine, being placed in the least exposed part of the hold, +were nearly all intact. Under this head we had experienced no loss, +and the iceberg would supply us with good drinking-water. It is a +well-known fact that ice, whether formed from fresh or salt water, +contains no salt, owing to the chloride of sodium being eliminated +in the change from the liquid to the solid state. The origin of the +ice, therefore, is a matter of no importance. However, those blocks +which are easily distinguished by their greenish colour and their +perfect transparency are preferable. They are solidified rain, and +therefore much more suitable for drinking-water. + +Without doubt, our captain would have recognized any blocks of this +description, but none were to be found on the glacier, owing to its +being that part of the berg which was originally submerged, and came +to the top after the fall. + +The captain and West decided first to lighten the vessel, by +conveying everything on board to land. The masts were to be cleared +of rigging, taken out, and placed on the plateau. It was necessary +to lighten the vessel as much as possible, even to clear out the +ballast, owing to the difficult and dangerous operation of +launching. It would be better to put off our departure for some days +if this operation could be performed under more favourable +circumstances. The loading might be afterwards accomplished without +much difficulty. + +Besides this, another reason by no means less serious presented +itself to us. It would have been an act of unpardonable rashness to +leave the provisions in the store-room of the _Halbrane_, her situation +on the side of the iceberg being very precarious. One shake would +suffice to detach the ship, and with her would have disappeared the +supplies on which our lives depended. + +On this account, we passed the day in removing casks of half-salted +meat, dried vegetables, flour, biscuits, tea, coffee, barrels of +gin, whisky, wine and beer from the hold and store-room and placing +them in safety in the hammocks near the _Halbrane_. + +We also had to insure our landing against any possible accident, +and, I must add, against any plot on the part of Hearne and others +to seize the boat in order to return to the ice-barrier. + +We placed the long boat in a cavity which would be easy to watch, +about thirty feet to the left of the schooner, along with its oars, +rudder, compass, anchor, masts and sail. + +By day there was nothing to fear, and at night, or rather during the +hours of sleep, the boatswain and one of the superiors would keep +guard near the cavity, and we might rest assured that no evil could +befall. + +The 19th, 20th, and 21st of January were passed in working extra +hard in the unshipping of the cargo and the dismantling of the +_Halbrane_. We slung the lower masts by means of yards forming props. +Later on, West would see to replacing the main and mizzen masts; in +any case, we could do without them until we had reached the +Falklands or some other winter port. + +Needless to say, we had set up a camp on the plateau of which I have +spoken, not far from the _Halbrane_. Sufficient shelter against the +inclemency of the weather, not unfrequent at this time of the year, +was to be found under tents, constructed of sails placed on spars +and fastened down by pegs. The glass remained set fair; the wind was +nor'-east, the temperature having risen to 46 degrees (2° 78' C.). + +Endicott's kitchen was fitted up at the end of the plain, near a +steep projection by which we could climb to the very top of the berg. + +It is only fair to state that during these three days of hard work +no fault was to be found with Hearne. The sealing-master knew he was +being closely watched, and he was well aware that Captain Len Guy +would not spare him if he tried to get up insubordination amongst +his comrades. It was a pity that his bad instincts had induced him +to play such a part, for his strength, skill, and cleverness made +him a very valuable man, and he had never proved more useful than +under these circumstances. + +Was he changed for the better? Did he understand that general good +feeling was necessary for the safety of all? I know not, but I had +no confidence in him, neither had Hurliguerly! + +I need not dwell on the ardour with which the half-breed did the +rough work, always first to begin and the last to leave off, doing +as much as four men, and scarcely sleeping, only resting during +meals, which he took apart from the others. He had hardly spoken to +me at all since the schooner had met with this terrible accident. + +What indeed could he say to me? Did I not know as well as he that it +would be necessary to renounce every hope of pursuing our intended +voyage? + +Now and again I noticed Martin Holt and the half-breed near each +other while some difficult piece of work was in progress. Our +sailing-master did not miss a chance of getting near Dirk Peters, who +always tried his best to escape from him, for reasons well known to +me. And whenever I thought of the secret of the fate of the +so-called Parker, Martin Holt's brother, which had been entrusted +to me, that dreadful scene of the _Grampus_ filled me with horror. I +was certain that if this secret were made known the half-breed would +become an object of terror. He would no longer be looked upon as the +rescuer of the sailing-master; and the latter, learning that his +brother-- Luckily, Dirk Peters and myself were the only two +acquainted with the fact. + +While the _Halbrane_ was being unloaded, Captain Len Guy and the mate +were considering how the vessel might be launched. They had to allow +for a drop of one hundred feet between the cavity in which the ship +lay and the sea; this to be effected by means of an inclined bed +hollowed in an oblique line along the west side of the iceberg, and +to measure two or three hundred perches in length. So, while the +first lot of men, commanded by the boatswain, was unloading the +schooner, a second batch under West's orders began to cut the +trench between the blocks which covered the side of the floating +mountain. + +Floating? I know not why I use this expression, for the iceberg no +longer floated, but remained as motionless as an island. There was +nothing to indicate that it would ever move again. Other icebergs +drifted along and passed us, going south-east, whilst ours, to use +Dirk Peters' expression, was "lying to." Would its base be +sufficiently undermined to allow it to detach itself? Perhaps some +heavy mass of ice might strike it and set it free by the shock. No +one could predict such an event, and we had only the _Halbrane_ to +rely upon for getting us out of these regions. + +We were engaged in these various tasks until the 24th of January. +The atmosphere was clear, the temperature was even, and the +thermometer had indeed gone up to two or three degrees above +freezing-point. The number of icebergs coming from the nor'-west +was therefore increasing; there were now a hundred of them, and a +collision with any of these might have a most disastrous result. +Hardy, the caulker, hastened first of all to mend the hull; pegs had +to be changed, bits of planking to be replaced, seams to be caulked. +We had everything that was necessary for this work, and we might +rest assured that it would be performed in the best possible manner. +In the midst of the silence of these solitudes, the noise of the +hammers striking nails into the side, and the sound of the mallet +stuffing tow into the seams, had a startling effect. Sea-gulls, wild +duck, albatross, and petrels flew in a circle round the top of the +berg with a shrill screaming, and made a terrible uproar. + +When I found myself with West and the captain, our conversation +naturally turned on our situation and how to get out of it, and upon +our chances of pulling through. The mate had good hopes that if no +accident occurred the launching would be successfully accomplished. +The captain was more reserved on the subject, but at the thought +that he would have to renounce all hope of finding the survivors of +the _Jane_, his heart was ready to break. + +When the _Halbrane_ should again be ready for the sea, and when West +should inquire what course he was to steer, would Captain Len Guy +dare to reply, "To the south"? No! for he would not be followed either +by the new hands, or by the greater portion of the older members of +the crew. To continue our search in this direction, to go beyond the +pole, without being certain of reaching the Indian Ocean instead of +the Atlantic, would have been rashness of which no navigator would be +guilty. If a continent bound the sea on this side, the schooner +would run the danger of being crushed by the mass of ice before it +could escape the southern winter. + +Under such circumstances, to attempt to persuade Captain Len Guy to +pursue the voyage would only be to court a certain refusal. It could +not even be proposed, now that necessity obliged us to return +northwards, and not to delay a single day in this portion of the +Antarctic regions. At any rate, though I resolved not again to speak +of the matter to the captain, I lost no opportunity of sounding the +boatswain. Often when he had finished his work, Hurliguerly would +come and join me; we would chat, and we would compare our +recollections of travel. + +One day as we were seated on the summit of the iceberg, gazing +fixedly on the deceptive horizon, he exclaimed,-- + +"Who could ever have imagined, Mr. Jeorling, when the _Halbrane_ +left Kerguelen, that six and a half months afterwards she would be +stuck on the side of an ice-mountain?" + +"A fact much more to be regretted," I replied, "because only +for that accident we should have attained our object, and we should +have begun our return journey." + +"I don't mean to contradict," replied the boatswain, "but +you say we should have attained our object. Do you mean by that, +that we should have found our countrymen?" + +"Perhaps." + +"I can scarcely believe such would have been the case, Mr. +Jeorling, although this was the principal and perhaps even the only +object of our navigation in the polar seas." + +"The only one--yes--at the start," I insinuated. "But since +the half-breed's revelations about Arthur Pym--" + +"Ah! You are always harking back on that subject, like brave Dirk +Peters." + +"Always, Hurliguerly; and only that a deplorable and unforeseen +accident made us run aground--" + +"I leave you to your delusions, Mr. Jeorling, since you believe +you have run aground--" + +"Why? Is not this the case?" + +"In any case it is a wonderful running aground," replied the +boatswain. "Instead of a good solid bottom, we have run aground in +the air." + +"Then I am right, Hurliguerly, in saying it is an unfortunate +adventure." + +"Unfortunate, truly, but in my opinion we should take warning by +it." + +"What warning?" + +"That it is not permitted to us to venture so far in these +latitudes, and I believe that the Creator forbids His creatures to +climb to the summit of the poles." + +"Notwithstanding that the summit of one pole is only sixty miles +away from us now." + +"Granted, Mr. Jeorling, but these sixty miles are equal to +thousands when we have no means of making them! And if the launch of +the schooner is not successful, here are we condemned to winter +quarters which the polar bears themselves would hardly relish!" + +I replied only by a shake of my head, which Hurliguerly could not +fail to understand. + +"Do you know, Mr. Jeorling, of what I think oftenest?" + +"What do you think of, boatswain?" + +"Of the Kerguelens, whither we are certainly not travelling. +Truly, in a bad season it was cold enough there! There is not much +difference between this archipelago and the islands situated on the +edge of the Antarctic Sea! But there one is not far from the Cape, +and if we want to warm our shins, no iceberg bars the way. Whereas +here it is the devil to weigh anchor, and one never knows if one +shall find a clear course." + +"I repeat it, boatswain. If this last accident had not occurred, +everything would have been over by this time, one way or another. We +should still have had more than six weeks to get out of these +southern seas. It is seldom that a ship is so roughly treated as +ours has been, and I consider it real bad luck, after our having +profited by such fortunate circumstances--" + +"These circumstances are all over, Mr. Jeorling," exclaimed +Hurliguerly, "and I fear indeed--" + +"What--you also, boatswain--you whom I believed to be so +confident!" + +"Confidence, Mr. Jeorling, wears out like the ends of one's +trousers. What would you have me do? When I compare my lot to old +Atkins, installed in his cosy inn; when I think of the Green +Cormorant, of the big parlours downstairs with the little tables +round which friends sip whisky and gin, discussing the news of the +day, while the stove makes more noise than the weathercock on the +roof--oh, then the comparison is not in our favour, and in my +opinion Mr. Atkins enjoys life better than I do." + +"You shall see them all again, boatswain--Atkins, the Green +Cormorant, and Kerguelen! For God's sake do not let yourself grow +downhearted! And if you, a sensible and courageous man, despair +already--" + +"Oh, if I were the only one it would not be half so bad as it +is!" + +"The whole crew does not despair, surely?" + +"Yes--and no," replied Hurliguerly, "for I know some who are +not at all satisfied!" + +"Has Hearne begun his mischief again? Is he exciting his +companions?" + +"Not openly at least, Mr. Jeorling, and since I have kept him +under my eye I have neither seen nor heard anything. Besides, he +knows what awaits him if he budges. I believe I am not mistaken, the +sly dog has changed his tactics. But what does not astonish me in +him, astonishes me in Martin Holt." + +"What do you mean, boatswain?" + +"That they seem to be on good terms with each other. See how +Hearne seeks out Martin Holt, talks to him frequently, and Holt does +not treat his overtures unfavourably.'' + +"Martin Holt is not one of those who would listen to Hearne's +advice, or follow it if he tried to provoke rebellion amongst the +crew." + +"No doubt, Mr. Jeorling. However, I don't fancy seeing them so +much together. Hearne is a dangerous and unscrupulous individual, +and most likely Martin Holt does not distrust him sufficiently." + +"He is wrong, boatswain." + +"And--wait a moment--do you know what they were talking about +the other day when I overheard a few scraps of their conversation?" + +"I could not possibly guess until you tell me, Hurliguerly." + +"Well, while they were conversing on the bridge of the _Halbrane_, I +heard them talking about Dirk Peters, and Hearne was saying: ‘You +must not owe a grudge to the half-breed, Master Holt, because he +refused to respond to your advances and accept your thanks! If he be +only a sort of brute, he possesses plenty of courage, and has showed +it in getting you out of a bad corner at the risk of his life. And +besides, do not forget that he formed part of the crew of the +_Grampus_, and your brother Ned, if I don't mistake--'" + +"He said that, boatswain; he spoke of the _Grampus_?" I exclaimed. + +"Yes--of the _Grampus_!" + +"And of Ned Holt?" + +"Precisely, Mr. Jeorling!" + +"And what answer did Martin Holt make?" + +"He replied: ‘I don't even know under what circumstances my +unfortunate brother perished. Was it during a revolt on board? Brave +man that he was, he would not betray his captain, and perhaps he was +massacred.'" + +"Did Hearne dwell on this, boatswain?" + +"Yes, but he added: ‘It is very sad for you, Master Holt! The +captain of the _Grampus_, according to what I have been told, was +abandoned, being placed in a small boat with one or two of his +men--and who knows if your brother was not along with him?'" + +"And what next?" + +"Then, Mr. Jeorling, he added: ‘Did it never occur to you to ask +Dirk Peters to enlighten you on the subject?' ‘Yes, once,' +replied Martin Holt, ‘I questioned the half-breed about it, and +never did I see a man so overcome. He replied in so low a voice that +I could scarcely understand him, "I know not--I know not--" +and he ran away with his face buried in his hands.'" + +"Was that all you heard of the conversation, boatswain?" + +"That was all, Mr. Jeorling, and I thought it so strange that I +wished to inform you of it." + +"And what conclusion did you draw from it?" + +"Nothing, except that I look upon the sealing-master as a +scoundrel of the deepest dye, perfectly capable of working in +secret for some evil purpose with which he would like to associate +Martin Holt!" + +What did Hearne's new attitude mean? Why did he strive to gain +Martin Holt, one of the best of the crew, as an ally? Why did he +recall the scenes of the _Grampus_? Did Hearne know more of this +matter of Dirk Peters and Ned Holt than the others; this secret of +which the half-breed and I believed ourselves to be the sole +possessors? + +The doubt caused me serious uneasiness. However, I took good care +not to say anything of it to Dirk Peters. If he had for a moment +suspected that Hearne spoke of what happened on board the _Grampus_, +if he had heard that the rascal (as Hurliguerly called him, and not +without reason) constantly talked to Martin Holt about his brother, +I really do not know what would have happened. + +In short, whatever the intentions of Hearne might be, it was +dreadful to think that our sailing-master, on whose fidelity Captain +Len Guy ought to be able to count, was in conspiracy with him. + +The sealing-master must have a strong motive for acting in this way. +What it was I could not imagine. Although the crew seemed to have +abandoned every thought of mutiny, a strict watch was kept, +especially on Hearne. + +Besides, the situation must soon change, at least so far as the +schooner was concerned. Two days afterwards the work was finished. +The caulking operations were completed, and also the slide for +lowering the vessel to the base of our floating mountain. + +Just now the upper portion of the ice had been slightly softened, so +that this last work did not entail much labour for pickaxe or +spade. The course ran obliquely round the west side of the berg, so +that the incline should not be too great at any point. With cables +properly fixed, the launch, it seemed, might be effected without any +mishap. I rather feared lest the melting of the ice should make the +gliding less smooth at the lower part of the berg. + +Needless to say, the cargo, masting, anchors, chains, &c., had not +been put on board. The hull was quite heavy enough, and not easily +moved, so it was necessary to lighten it as much as possible. When +the schooner was again in its element, the loading could be +effected in a few days. + +On the afternoon of the 28th, the finishing touches were given. It +was necessary to put supports for the sides of the slide in some +places where the ice had melted quickly. Then everyone was allowed +to rest from 4 o'clock p.m. The captain had double rations served +out to all hands, and well they merited this extra supply of +spirits; they had indeed worked hard during the week. I repeat that +every sign of mutiny had disappeared. The crew thought of nothing +except this great operation of the launching. The _Halbrane_ in the +sea would mean departure, it would also mean return! For Dirk Peters +and me it would be the definite abandonment of Arthur Pym. + +That night the temperature was the highest we had so far +experienced. The thermometer registered 53° (11° 67' C. below +zero). So, although the sun was nearing the horizon, the ice was +melting, and thousands of small streams flowed in every direction. +The early birds awoke at four o'clock, and I was one of their +number. I had scarcely slept, and I fancy that Dirk Peters did not +sleep much, haunted as he was by the sad thought of having to turn +back! + +The launch was to take place at ten o'clock. Taking every possible +difficulty into account, and allowing for the minutest precautions, +the captain hoped that it would be completed before the close of the +day. Everyone believed that by evening the schooner would be at the +foot of the berg. + +Of course we had all to lend a hand to this difficult task. To each +man a special duty was assigned; some were employed to facilitate +the sliding with wooden rollers, if necessary; others to moderate +the speed of the hull, in case it became too great, by means of +hawsers and cables. + +We breakfasted at nine o'clock in the tents. Our sailors were +perfectly confident, and could not refrain from drinking "success +to the event"; and although this was a little premature, we added +our hurrahs to theirs. Success seemed very nearly assured, as the +captain and the mate had worked out the matter so carefully and +skilfully. At last we were about to leave our encampment and take up +our stations (some of the sailors were there already), when cries of +amazement and fear were raised. What a frightful scene, and, short +as it may have been, what an impression of terror it left on our +minds! + +One of the enormous blocks which formed the bank of the mud-bed +where the _Halbrane_ lay, having become loose owing to the melting of +its base, had slipped and was bounding over the others down the +incline. + +In another moment, the schooner, being no longer retained in +position, was swinging on this declivity. + +On board, on deck, in front, there were two sailors, Rogers and +Gratian. In vain did the unfortunate men try to jump over the +bulwarks, they had not time, and they were dragged away in this +dreadful fall. + +Yes! I saw it! I saw the schooner topple over, slide down first on +its left side, crush one of the men who delayed too long about +jumping to one side, then bound from block to block, and finally +fling itself into space. + +In another moment the _Halbrane_, staved in, broken up, with gaping +planks and shattered ribs, had sunk, causing a tremendous jet of +water to spout up at the foot of the iceberg. + +Horrified! yes, indeed, we were horrified when the schooner, carried +off as though by an avalanche, had disappeared in the abyss! Not a +particle of our _Halbrane_ remained, not even a wreck! + +A minute ago she was one hundred feet in the air, now she was five +hundred in the depths of the sea! Yes, we were so stupefied that we +were unable to think of the dangers to come--our amazement was that +of people who "cannot believe their eyes." + +Prostration succeeded as a natural consequence. There was not a word +spoken. We stood motionless, with our feet rooted to the icy soil. +No words could express the horror of our situation! + +As for West, when the schooner had disappeared in the abyss, I saw +big tears fall from his eyes. The _Halbrane_ that he loved so much was +now an unknown quantity! Yes, our stout-hearted mate wept. + +[Illustration: The _Halbrane_, staved in, broken up.] + +Three of our men had perished, and in what frightful fashion! I had +seen Rogers and Gratian, two of our most faithful sailors, stretch +out their hands in despair as they were knocked about by the +rebounding of the schooner, and finally sink with her! The other man +from the Falklands, an American, was crushed in its rush; his +shapeless form lay in a pool of blood. Three new victims within the +last ten days had to be inscribed on the register of those who died +during this fatal voyage! Ah! fortune had favoured us up to the hour +when the _Halbrane_ was snatched from her own element, but her hand +was now against us. And was not this last the worst blow--must it +not prove the stroke of death? + +The silence was broken by a tumult of despairing voices, whose +despair was justified indeed by this irreparable misfortune! + +And I am sure that more than one thought it would have been better +to have been on the _Halbrane_ as she rebounded off the side of the +iceberg! + +Everything would have been over then, as all was over with Rogers +and Gratian! This foolish expedition would thus have come to a +conclusion worthy of such rashness and imprudence! + +At last, the instinct of self-preservation triumphed, and except +Hearne, who stood some distance off and affected silence, all the +men shouted: "To the boat! to the boat!" + +These unfortunate fellows were out of their mind. Terror led them +astray. They rushed towards the crag where our one boat (which could +not hold them all) had been sheltered during the unloading of the +schooner. + +Captain Len Guy and Jem West rushed after them. I joined them +immediately, followed by the boatswain. We were armed, and resolved +to make use of our arms. We had to prevent these furious men from +seizing the boat, which did not belong to a few, but to all! + +"Hallo, sailors!" cried the captain. + +"Hallo!" repeated West, "stop there, or we fire on the first +who goes a step farther!" + +Both threatened the men with their pistols. The boatswain pointed +his gun at them. I held my rifle, ready to fire. + +It was in vain! The frenzied men heard nothing, would not hear +anything, and one of them fell, struck by the mate's bullet, just +as he was crossing the last block. He was unable to catch on to the +bank with his hands, and slipping on the frozen slope, he +disappeared in the abyss. + +Was this the beginning of a massacre? Would others let themselves be +killed at this place? Would the old hands side with the new-comers? + +At that moment I remarked that Hardy, Martin Holt, Francis Bury, and +Stern hesitated about coming over to our side, while Hearne, still +standing motionless at some distance, gave no encouragement to the +rebels. + +However, we could not allow them to become masters of the boat, to +bring it down, to embark ten or twelve men, and to abandon us to our +certain fate on this iceberg. They had almost reached the boat, +heedless of danger and deaf to threats, when a second report was +heard, and one of the sailors fell, by a bullet from the +boatswain's gun. + +One American and one Fuegian less to be numbered amongst the +sealing-master's partisans! + +Then, in front of the boat, a man appeared. It was Dirk Peters, who +had climbed the opposite slope. + +The half-breed put one of his enormous hands on the stern and with +the other made a sign to the furious men to clear off. Dirk Peters +being there, we no longer needed our arms, as he alone would suffice +to protect the boat. + +And indeed, as five or six of the sailors were advancing, he went up +to them, caught hold of the nearest by the belt, lifted him up, and +sent him flying ten paces off. The wretched man not being able to +catch hold of anything, would have rebounded into the sea had not +Hearne seized him. + +Owing to the half-breed's intervention the revolt was instantly +quelled. Besides, we were coming up to the boat, and with us those of +our men whose hesitation had not lasted long. + +No matter. The others were still thirteen to our ten. + +Captain Len Guy made his appearance; anger shone in his eyes, and with +him was West, quite unmoved. Words failed the captain for some +moments, but his looks said what his tongue could not utter. At length, +in a terrible voice, he said,-- + +"I ought to treat you as evil-doers; however, I will only consider +you as madmen! The boat belongs to everybody. It is now our only +means of salvation, and you wanted to steal it--to steal it like +cowards! Listen attentively to what I say for the last time! This +boat, belonging to the _Halbrane_, is now the _Halbrane_ herself! I am +the captain of it, and let him who disobeys me, beware!" + +With these last words Captain Len Guy looked at Hearne, for whom +this warning was expressly meant. The sealing-master had not +appeared in the last scene, not openly at least, but nobody doubted +that he had urged his comrades to make off with the boat, and that +he had every intention of doing the same again. + +"Now to the camp," said the captain, "and you, Dirk Peters, +remain here!" + +The half-breed's only reply was to nod his big head and betake +himself to his post. + +The crew returned to the camp without the least hesitation. Some lay +down in their sleeping-places, others wandered about. Hearne neither +tried to join them nor to go near Martin Holt. + +Now that the sailors were reduced to idleness, there was nothing to +do except to ponder on our critical situation, and invent some means +of getting out of it. + +The captain, the mate, and the boatswain formed a council, and I +took part in their deliberations. + +Captain Len Guy began by saying,-- + +"We have protected our boat, and we shall continue to protect +it." + +"Until death," declared West. + +"Who knows," said I, "whether we shall not soon be forced to +embark?" + +"In that case," replied the captain, "as all cannot fit into +it, it will be necessary to make a selection. Lots shall determine +which of us are to go, and I shall not ask to be treated differently +from the others." + +"We have not come to that, luckily," replied the boatswain. +"The iceberg is solid, and there is no fear of its melting before +winter." + +"No," assented West, "that is not to be feared. What it +behoves us to do is, while watching the boat, to keep an eye on the +provisions." + +"We are lucky," added Hurliguerly, "to have put our cargo in +safety. Poor, dear _Halbrane_. She will remain in these seas, like the +_Jane_, her elder sister!" + +Yes, without doubt, and I thought so for many reasons, the one +destroyed by the savages of Tsalal, the other by one of these +catastrophes that no human power can prevent. + +"You are right," replied the captain, "and we must prevent our +men from plundering. We are sure of enough provisions for one year, +without counting what we may get by fishing." + +"And it is so much the more necessary, captain, to keep a close +watch, because I have seen some hovering about the spirit casks." + +"I will see to that," replied West. + +"But," I then asked, "had we not better prepare ourselves for +the fact that we may be compelled to winter on this iceberg." + +"May Heaven avert such a terrible probability," replied the +captain. + +"After all, if it were necessary, we could get through it, Mr. +Jeorling," said the boatswain. "We could hollow out sheltering-places +in the ice, so as to be able to bear the extreme cold of the pole, +and so long as we had sufficient to appease our hunger--" + +At this moment the horrid recollection of the _Grampus_ came to my +mind--the scenes in which Dirk Peters killed Ned Holt, the brother +of our sailing-master. Should we ever be in such extremity? + +Would it not, before we proceed to set up winter quarters for seven +or eight months, be better to leave the iceberg altogether, if such +a thing were possible? + +I called the attention of Captain Len Guy and West to this point. + +This was a difficult question to answer, and a long silence preceded +the reply. + +At last the captain said,-- + +"Yes, that would be the best resolution to come to; and if our +boat could hold us all, with the provisions necessary for a voyage +that might last three or four weeks, I would not hesitate to put to +sea now and return towards the north." + +But I made them observe that we should be obliged to direct our +course contrary to wind and current; our schooner herself could +hardly have succeeded in doing this. Whilst to continue towards the +south-- + +"Towards the south?" repeated the captain, who looked at me as +though he sought to read my thoughts. + +"Why not?" I answered. "If the iceberg had not been stopped +in its passage, perhaps it would have drifted to some land in that +direction, and might not our boat accomplish what it would have +done?" + +The captain, shaking his head, answered nothing. West also was +silent. + +"Eh! our iceberg will end by raising its anchor," replied +Hurliguerly. "It does not hold to the bottom, like the Falklands +or the Kerguelens! So the safest course is to wait, as the boat +cannot carry twenty-three, the number of our party." + +I dwelt upon the fact that it was not necessary for all twenty-three +to embark. It would be sufficient, I said, for five or six of us to +reconnoitre further south for twelve or fifteen miles. + +"South?" repeated Captain Len Guy. + +"Undoubtedly, captain," I added. "You probably know what the +geographers frankly admit, that the antarctic regions are formed by +a capped continent." + +"Geographers know nothing, and can know nothing about it," +replied West, coldly. + +"It is a pity," said I, "that as we are so near, we should not +attempt to solve this question of a polar continent." + +I thought it better not to insist just at present. + +Moreover there would be danger in sending out our only boat on a +voyage of discovery, as the current might carry it too far, or it +might not find us again in the same place. And, indeed, if the +iceberg happened to get loose at the bottom, and to resume its +interrupted drift, what would become of the men in the boat? + +The drawback was that the boat was too small to carry us all, with +the necessary provisions. Now, of the seniors, there remained ten +men, counting Dirk Peters; of the new men there were thirteen; +twenty-three in all. The largest number our boat could hold was from +eleven to twelve persons. Then eleven of us, indicated by lot, would +have to remain on this island of ice. And what would become of them? + +With regard to this Hurliguerly made a sound observation. + +"After all," he said, "I don't know that those who would +embark would be better off than those who remained! I am so doubtful +of the result, that I would willingly give up my place to anyone who +wanted it." + +Perhaps the boatswain was right. But in my own mind, when I asked +that the boat might be utilized, it was only for the purpose of +reconnoitring the iceberg. + +We finally decided to arrange everything with a view to wintering +out, even were our ice-mountain again to drift. + +"We may be sure that will be agreed to by our men," declared +Hurliguerly. + +"What is necessary must be done," replied the mate, "and +to-day we must set to work." + +That was a sad day on which we began our preparations. + +Endicott, the cook, was the only man who submitted without +murmuring. As a negro, who cares little about the future, shallow +and frivolous like all his race, he resigned himself easily to his +fate; and this is, perhaps, true philosophy. Besides, when it came +to the question of cooking, it mattered very little to him whether +it was here or there, so long as his stoves were set up somewhere. + +So he said to his friend the mate, with his broad negro smile,-- + +"Luckily my kitchen did not go off with the schooner, and you +shall see, Hurliguerly, if I do not make up dishes just as good as +on board the _Halbrane_, so long as provisions don't grow scarce, of +course--" + +"Well! they will not be wanting for some time to come," replied +the boatswain. "We need not fear hunger, but cold, such cold as +would reduce you to an icicle the minute you cease to warm your +feet--cold that makes your skin crack and your skull split! Even if +we had some hundreds of tons of coal--But, all things being well +calculated, there is only just what will do to boil this large +kettle." + +"And that is sacred," cried Endicott; "touching is forbidden! +The kitchen before all." + +"And that is the reason why it never strikes you to pity yourself, +you old nigger! You can always make sure of keeping your feet warm +at your oven!" + +"What would you have, boatswain? You are a first-rate cook, or you +are not. When you are, you take advantage of it; but I will remember +to keep you a little place before my stove." + +"That's good! that's good, Endicott! Each one shall have his +turn! There is no privilege, even for a boatswain! On the whole, it +is better not to have to fear famine! One can fight against the +cold. We shall dig holes in the iceberg, and cuddle ourselves up +there. And why should we not have a general dwelling-room? We could +make a cave for ourselves with pickaxes! I have heard tell that ice +preserves heat. Well, let it preserve ours, and that is all I ask of +it!" + +The hour had come for us to return to the camp and to seek our +sleeping-places. + +Dirk Peters alone refused to be relieved of his duty as watchman of +the boat, and nobody thought of disputing the post with him. + +Captain Len Guy and West did not enter the tents until they had made +certain that Hearne and his companions had gone to their usual place +of rest. + +I came back likewise and went to bed. + +I could not tell how long I had been sleeping, nor what time it was, +when I found myself rolling on the ground after a violent shock. + +What could be happening? Was it another capsize of the iceberg? + +We were all up in a second, then outside the tents in the full light +of a night in the polar regions. + +A second floating mass of enormous size had just struck our iceberg, +which had "hoisted the anchor" (as the sailors say) and was +drifting towards the south. + +An unhoped-for change in the situation had taken place. What were to +be the consequences of our being no longer cast away at that place? +The current was now carrying us in the direction of the pole! The +first feeling of joy inspired by this conviction was, however, +succeeded by all the terrors of the unknown! and what an unknown! + +Dirk Peters only was entirely rejoiced that we had resumed the route +which, he believed, would lead us to the discovery of traces of his +"poor Pym"--far other ideas occupied the minds of his companions. + +Captain Len Guy no longer entertained any hope of rescuing his +countrymen, and having reached the condition of despair, he was +bound by his duty to take his crew back to the north, so as to clear +the antarctic circle while the season rendered it possible to do so. +And we were being carried away towards the south! + +Naturally enough, we were all deeply impressed by the fearfulness of +our position, which may be summed up in a few words. We were no +longer cast away, with a possible ship, but the tenants of a +floating iceberg, with no hope but that our monster tenement might +encounter one of the whaling ships whose business in the deep waters +lies between the Orkneys, New Georgia, and the Sandwich Islands. A +quantity of things had been thrown into the ice by the collision +which had set our iceberg afloat, but these were chiefly articles +belonging to the _Halbrane_. Owing to the precaution that had been +taken on the previous day, when the cargo was stowed away in the +clefts, it had been only slightly damaged. What would have become of +us, had all our reserves been swallowed up in that grim encounter? + +Now, the two icebergs formed but one, which was travelling south at +the rate of two miles an hour. At this rate, thirty hours would +suffice to bring us to the point of the axis at which the +terrestrial meridians unite. Did the current which was carrying us +along pass on to the pole itself, or was there any land which might +arrest our progress? This was another question, and I discussed it +with the boatswain. + +"Nobody knows, Mr. Jeorling," was Hurliguerly's reply. "If +the current goes to the pole, we shall go there; and if it +doesn't, we shan't. An iceberg isn't a ship, and as it has +neither sails nor helm, it goes as the drift takes it." + +"That's true, boatswain. And therefore I had the idea that if +two or three of us were to embark in the boat--" + +"Ah! you still hold to your notion of the boat--" + +"Certainly, for, if there is land somewhere, is it not possible +that the people of the _Jane_--" + +"Have come upon it, Mr. Jeorling--at four thousand miles from +Tsalal Island." + +"Who knows, boatswain?" + +"That may be, but allow me to say that your argument will be +reasonable when the land comes in sight, if it ever does so. Our +captain will see what ought to be done, and he will remember that +time presses. We cannot delay in these waters, and, after all, the +one thing of real importance to us is to get out of the polar circle +before the winter makes it impassable." + +There was good sense in Hurliguerly's words; I could not deny the +fact. + +During that day the greater part of the cargo was placed in the +interior of a vast cave-like fissure in the side of the iceberg, +where, even in case of a second collision, casks and barrels would +be in safety. Our men then assisted Endicott to set up his +cooking-stove between two blocks, so that it was firmly fixed, and +they heaped up a great mass of coals close to it. + +No murmurs, no recrimination disturbed these labours. It was evident +that silence was deliberately maintained. The crew obeyed the +captain and West because they gave no orders but such as were of +urgent necessity. But, afterwards, would these men allow the +authority of their leaders to be uncontested? How long would the +recruits from the Falklands, who were already exasperated by the +disasters of our enterprise, resist their desire to seize upon the +boat and escape? + +I did not think they would make the attempt, however, so long as our +iceberg should continue to drift, for the boat could not outstrip +its progress; but, if it were to run aground once more, to strike +upon the coast of an island or a continent, what would not these +unfortunate creatures do to escape the horrors of wintering under +such conditions? + +In the afternoon, during the hour of rest allowed to the crew, I had +a second conversation with Dirk Peters. I had taken my customary +seat at the top of the iceberg, and had occupied it for half an +hour, being, as may be supposed, deep in thought, when I saw the +half-breed coming quickly up the slope. We had exchanged hardly a +dozen words since the iceberg had begun to move again. When Dirk +Peters came up to me, he did not address me at first, and was so +intent on his thoughts that I was not quite sure he saw me. At +length, he leaned back against an ice-block, and spoke: + +"Mr. Jeorling," he said, "you remember, in your cabin in the +_Halbrane_, I told you the--the affair of the _Grampus_?" + +I remembered well. + +"I told you that Parker's name was not Parker, that it was Holt, +and that he was Ned Holt's brother?" + +[Illustration: "I was afraid; I got away from him."] + +"I know, Dirk Peters," I replied, "but why do you refer to +that sad story again?" + +"Why, Mr. Jeorling? Have not--have you never said anything about +it to anybody?" + +"Not to anybody," I protested. "How could you suppose I should +be so ill-advised, so imprudent, as to divulge your secret, a secret +which ought never to pass our lips--a dead secret?" + +"Dead, yes, dead! And yet, understand me, it seems to me that, +among the crew, something is known." + +I instantly recalled to mind what the boatswain had told me +concerning a certain conversation in which he had overheard Hearne +prompting Martin Holt to ask the half-breed what were the +circumstances of his brother's death on board the _Grampus_. Had a +portion of the secret got out, or was this apprehension on the part +of Dirk Peters purely imaginary? + +"Explain yourself," I said. + +"Understand me, Mr. Jeorling, I am a bad hand at explaining. Yes, +yesterday--I have thought of nothing else since--Martin Holt took +me aside, far from the others, and told me that he wished to speak +to me--" + +"Of the _Grampus_?" + +"Of the _Grampus_--yes, and of his brother, Ned Holt. For the first +time he uttered that name before me--and yet we have sailed +together for nearly three months." + +The half-breed's voice was so changed that I could hardly hear him. + +"It seemed to me," he resumed, "that in Martin Holt's +mind--no, I was not mistaken--there was something like a +suspicion." + +"But tell me what he said! Tell me exactly what he asked you. What +is it?" + +I felt sure that the question put by Martin Holt, whatsoever its +bearing, had been inspired by Hearne. Nevertheless, as I considered +it well that the half-breed should know nothing of the sealing-master's +disquieting and inexplicable intervention in this tragic affair, I +decided upon concealing it from him. + +"He asked me," replied Dirk Peters, "did I not remember Ned +Holt of the _Grampus_, and whether he had perished in the fight with +the mutineers or in the shipwreck; whether he was one of the men who +had been abandoned with Captain Barnard; in short, he asked me if I +could tell him how his brother died. Ah! how!" + +No idea could be conveyed of the horror with which the half-breed +uttered words which revealed a profound loathing of himself. + +"And what answer did you make to Martin Holt?" + +"None, none!" + +"You should have said that Ned Holt perished in the wreck of the +brig." + +"I could not--understand me--I could not. The two brothers are +so like each other. In Martin Holt I seemed to see Ned Holt. I was +afraid, I got away from him." + +The half-breed drew himself up with a sudden movement, and I sat +thinking, leaning my head on my hands. These tardy questions of +Holt's respecting his brother were put, I had no doubt whatsoever, +at the instigation of Hearne, but what was his motive, and was it at +the Falklands that he had discovered the secret of Dirk Peters? I +had not breathed a word on the subject to anyone. To the second +question no answer suggested itself; the first involved a serious +issue. Did the sealing-master merely desire to gratify his enmity +against Dirk Peters, the only one of the Falkland sailors who had +always taken the side of Captain Len Guy, and who had prevented the +seizure of the boat by Hearne and his companions? Did he hope, by +arousing the wrath and vengeance of Martin Holt, to detach the +sailing-master from his allegiance and induce him to become an +accomplice in Hearne's own designs? And, in fact, when it was a +question of sailing the boat in these seas, had he not imperative +need of Martin Holt, one of the best seamen of the _Halbrane_? A man +who would succeed where Hearne and his companions would fail, if +they had only themselves to depend on? + +I became lost in this labyrinth of hypotheses, and it must be +admitted that its complications added largely to the troubles of an +already complicated position. + +When I raised my eyes, Dirk Peters had disappeared; he had said what +he came to say, and he now knew that I had not betrayed his +confidence. + +The customary precautions were taken for the night, no individual +being allowed to remain outside the camp, with the exception of the +half-breed, who was in charge of the boat. + +The following day was the 31st of January. I pushed back the canvas +of the tent, which I shared with Captain Len Guy and West +respectively, as each succeeded the other on release from the +alternate "watch," very early, and experienced a severe +disappointment. + +Mist, everywhere! Nay, more than mist, a thick yellow, +mouldy-smelling fog. And more than this again; the temperature had +fallen sensibly: this was probably a forewarning of the austral +winter. The summit of our ice-mountain was lost in vapour, in a fog +which would not resolve itself into rain, but would continue to +muffle up the horizon. + +"Bad luck!" said the boatswain, "for now if we were to pass by +land we should not perceive it." + +"And our drift?" + +"More considerable than yesterday, Mr. Jeorling. The captain has +sounded, and he makes the speed no less than between three and four +miles." + +"And what do you conclude from this?" + +"I conclude that we must be within a narrower sea, since the +current is so strong. I should not be surprised if we had land on +both sides of us within ten or fifteen miles." + +"This, then, would be a wide strait that cuts the antarctic +continent?" + +"Yes. Our captain is of that opinion." + +"And, holding that opinion, is he not going to make an attempt to +reach one or other of the coasts of this strait?" + +"And how?" + +"With the boat." + +"Risk the boat in the midst of this fog!" exclaimed the +boatswain, as he crossed his arms. "What are you thinking of, Mr. +Jeorling? Can we cast anchor to wait for it? And all the chances +would be that we should never see it again. Ah! if we only had the +_Halbrane_!" + +But there was no longer a _Halbrane_! + +In spite of the difficulty of the ascent through the half-condensed +vapour, I climbed up to the top of the iceberg, but when I had +gained that eminence I strove in vain to pierce the impenetrable +grey mantle in which the waters were wrapped. + +I remained there, hustled by the north-east wind, which was +beginning to blow freshly and might perhaps rend the fog asunder. +But no, fresh vapours accumulated around our floating refuge, driven +up by the immense ventilation of the open sea. Under the double +action of the atmospheric and antarctic currents, we drifted more +and more rapidly, and I perceived a sort of shudder pass throughout +the vast bulk of the iceberg. + +Then it was that I felt myself under the dominion of a sort of +hallucination, one of those hallucinations which must have troubled +tile mind of Arthur Pym. It seemed to me that I was losing myself in +his extraordinary personality; at last I was beholding all that he +had seen! Was not that impenetrable mist the curtain of vapours +which he had seen in his delirium? I peered into it, seeking for +those luminous rays which had streaked the sky from east to west! I +sought in its depths for that limitless cataract, rolling in silence +from the height of some immense rampart lost in the vastness of the +zenith! I sought for the awful white giant of the South Pole! + +At length reason resumed her sway. This visionary madness, +intoxicating while it lasted, passed off by degrees, and I descended +the slope to our camp. + +The whole day passed without a change. The fog never once lifted to +give us a glimpse outside of its muffling folds, and if the iceberg, +which had travelled forty miles since the previous day, had passed +by the extremity of the axis of the earth, we should never know it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. +AMID THE MISTS. + + +So this was the sum of all our efforts, trials and disappointments! +Not to speak of the destruction of the _Halbrane_, the expedition had +already cost nine lives. From thirty-two men who had embarked on the +schooner, our number was reduced to twenty-three: how low was that +figure yet to fall? + +Between the south pole and antarctic circle lay twenty degrees, and +those would have to be cleared in a month or six weeks at the most; +if not, the iceberg barrier would be re-formed and closed-up. As for +wintering in that part of the antarctic circle, not a man of us +could have survived it. + +Besides, we had lost all hope of rescuing the survivors of the _Jane_, +and the sole desire of the crew was to escape as quickly as possible +from the awful solitudes of the south. Our drift, which had been +south, down to the pole, was now north, and, if that direction +should continue, perhaps we might be favoured with such good +fortune as would make up for all the evil that had befallen us! In +any case there was nothing for it but, in familiar phrase, "to let +ourselves go." + +The mist did not lift during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of February, and +it would have been difficult to make out the rate of progress of our +iceberg since it had passed the pole. Captain Len Guy, however, and +West, considered themselves safe in reckoning it at two hundred and +fifty miles. + +The current did not seem to have diminished in speed or changed its +course. It was now beyond a doubt that we were moving between the +two halves of a continent, one on the east, the other on the west, +which formed the vast antarctic region. And I thought it was a matter +of great regret that we could not get aground on one or the other +side of this vast strait, whose surface would presently be +solidified by the coming of winter. + +When I expressed this sentiment to Captain Len Guy, he made me the +only logical answer: + +"What would you have, Mr. Jeorling? We are powerless. There is +nothing to be done, and the persistent fog is the worst part of our +ill luck. I no longer know where we are. It is impossible to take an +observation, and this befalls us just as the sun is about to +disappear for long months." + +"Let me come back to the question of the boat," said I, "for +the last time. Could we not, with the boat--" + +"Go on a discovery cruise? Can you think of such a thing? That +would be an imprudence I would not commit, even though the crew +would allow me." + +I was on the point of exclaiming: "And what if your brother and +your countrymen have found refuge on some spot of the land that +undoubtedly lies about us?" + +But I restrained myself. Of what avail was it to reawaken our +captain's grief? He, too, must have contemplated this eventuality, +and he had not renounced his purpose of further search without being +fully convinced of the folly of a last attempt. + +During those three days of fog I had not caught sight of Dirk +Peters, or rather he had made no attempt to approach, but had +remained inflexibly at his post by the boat. Martin Holt's +questions respecting his brother Ned seemed to indicate that his +secret was known--at least in part, and the half-breed held himself +more than ever aloof, sleeping while the others watched, and +watching in their time of sleep. I even wondered whether he +regretted having confided in me, and fancied that he had aroused my +repugnance by his sad story. If so, he was mistaken; I deeply pitied +the poor half-breed. + +Nothing could exceed the melancholy monotony of the hours which we +passed in the midst of a fog so thick that the wind could not lift +its curtain. The position of the iceberg could not be ascertained. +It went with the current at a like speed, and had it been motionless +there would have been no appreciable difference for us, for the wind +had fallen--at least, so we supposed--and not a breath was +stirring. The flame of a torch held up in the air did not flicker. +The silence of space was broken only by the clangour of the +sea-birds, which came in muffled croaking tones through the stifling +atmosphere of vapour. Petrels and albatross swept the top of the +iceberg, where they kept a useless watch in their flight. In what +direction were those swift-winged creatures--perhaps already driven +towards the confines of the arctic region at the approach of +winter--bound? We could not tell. One day, the boatswain, who was +determined to solve this question if possible, having mounted to the +extreme top, not without risk of breaking his neck, came into such +violent contact with a _quebranta huesos_--a sort of gigantic petrel +measuring twelve feet with spread wings--that he was flung on his +back. + +"Curse the bird!" he said on his return to the camp, addressing +the observation to me. "I have had a narrow escape! A thump, and +down I went, sprawling. I saved myself I don't know how, for I was +all but over the side. Those ice ledges, you know, slip through +one's fingers like water. I called out to the bird, ‘Can't you +even look before you, you fool?' But what was the good of that? +The big blunderer did not even beg my pardon!" + +In the afternoon of the same day our ears were assailed by a hideous +braying from below. Hurliguerly remarked that as there were no asses +to treat us to the concert, it must be given by penguins. Hitherto +these countless dwellers in the polar regions had not thought proper +to accompany us on our moving island; we had not seen even one, +either at the foot of the iceberg or on the drifting packs. +There could be no doubt that they were there in thousands, for the +music was unmistakably that of a multitude of performers. Now those +birds frequent by choice the edges of the coasts of islands and +continents in high latitudes, or the ice-fields in their +neighbourhood. Was not their presence an indication that land was +near? + +I asked Captain Len Guy what he thought of the presence of these +birds. + +"I think what you think, Mr. Jeorling," he replied. "Since we +have been drifting, none of them have taken refuge on the iceberg, +and here they are now in crowds, if we may judge by their deafening +cries. From whence do they come? No doubt from land, which is +probably near." + +"Is this West's opinion?" + +"Yes, Mr. Jeorling, and you know he is not given to vain +imaginations." + +"Certainly not." + +"And then another thing has struck both him and me, which has +apparently escaped your attention. It is that the braying of the +penguins is mingled with a sound like the lowing of cattle. Listen +and you will readily distinguish it." + +I listened, and, sure enough, the orchestra was more full than I had +supposed. + +"I hear the lowing plainly," I said; "there are, then, seals +and walrus also in the sea at the base." + +"That is certain, Mr. Jeorling, and I conclude from the fact that +those animals--both birds and mammals--very rare since we left +Tsalal Island, frequent the waters into which the currents have +carried us." + +"Of course, captain, of course. Oh! what a misfortune it is that +we should be surrounded by this impenetrable fog!" + +"Which prevents us from even getting down to the base of the +iceberg! There, no doubt, we should discover whether there are +seaweed drifts around us; if that be so, it would be another sign." + +"Why not try, captain?" + +"No, no, Mr. Jeorling, that might lead to falls, and I will not +permit anybody to leave the camp. If land be there, I imagine our +iceberg will strike it before long." + +"And if it does not?" + +"If it does not, how are we to make it?" + +I thought to myself that the boat might very well be used in the +latter case. But Captain Len Guy preferred to wait, and perhaps this +was the wiser course under our circumstances. + +At eight o'clock that evening the half-condensed mist was so +compact that it was difficult to walk through it. The composition of +the air seemed to be changed, as though it were passing into a solid +state. It was not possible to discern whether the fog had any effect +upon the compass. I knew the matter had been studied by +meteorologists, and that they believe they may safely affirm that +the needle is not affected by this condition of the atmosphere. I +will add here that since we had left the South Pole behind no +confidence could be placed in the indications of the compass; it had +gone wild at the approach to the magnetic pole, to which we were no +doubt on the way. Nothing could be known, therefore, concerning the +course of the iceberg. + +The sun did not set quite below the horizon at this period, yet the +waters were wrapped in tolerably deep darkness at nine o'clock in +the evening, when the muster of the crew took place. + +On this occasion each man as usual answered to his name except Dirk +Peters. + +The call was repeated in the loudest of Hurliguerly's stentorian +tones. No reply. + +"Has nobody seen Dirk Peters during the day?" inquired the +captain. + +"Nobody," answered the boatswain. + +"Can anything have happened to him?" + +"Don't be afraid," cried the boatswain. "Dirk Peters is in +his element, and as much at his ease in the fog as a polar bear. He +has got out of one bad scrape; he will get out of a second!" + +I let Hurliguerly have his say, knowing well why the half-breed kept +out of the way. + +That night none of us, I am sure, could sleep. We were smothered in +the tents, for lack of oxygen. And we were all more or less under +the influence of a strange sort of presentiment, as though our fate +were about to change, for better or worse, if indeed it could be +worse. + +The night wore on without any alarm, and at six o'clock in the +morning each of us came out to breathe a more wholesome air. + +The state of things was unchanged, the density of the fog was +extraordinary. It was, however, found that the barometer had risen, +too quickly, it is true, for the rise to be serious. Presently other +signs of change became evident. The wind, which was growing +colder--a south wind since we had passed beyond the south +pole--began to blow a full gale, and the noises from below were +heard more distinctly through the space swept by the atmospheric +currents. + +At nine o'clock the iceberg doffed its cap of vapour quite +suddenly, producing an indescribable transformation scene which no +fairy's wand could have accomplished in less time or with greater +success. + +In a few moments, the sky was clear to the extreme verge of the +horizon, and the sea reappeared, illumined by the oblique rays of +the sun, which now rose only a few degrees above it. A rolling swell +of the waves bathed the base of our iceberg in white foam, as it +drifted, together with a great multitude of floating mountains under +the double action of wind and current, on a course inclining to the +nor'-nor'-east. + +"Land!" + +This cry came from the summit of the moving mountain, and Dirk +Peters was revealed to our sight, standing on the outermost block, +his hand stretched towards the north. + +The half-breed was not mistaken. The land this time--yes!--it was +land! Its distant heights, of a blackish hue, rose within three or +four miles of us. + + 86° 12' south latitude. + 114° 17' east longitude. + +The iceberg was nearly four degrees beyond the antarctic pole, and +from the western longitudes that our schooner had followed tracing +the course of the _Jane_, we had passed into the eastern longitudes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. +IN CAMP. + + +A little after noon, the iceberg was within a mile of the land. + +After their dinner, the crew climbed up to the topmost block, on +which Dirk Peters was stationed. On our approach the half-breed +descended the opposite slope, and when I reached the top he was no +longer to be seen. + +The land on the north evidently formed a continent or island of +considerable extent. On the west there was a sharply projecting +cape, surmounted by a sloping height which resembled an enormous +seal's head on the side view; then beyond that was a wide stretch +of sea. On the east the land was prolonged out of sight. + +Each one of us took in the position. It depended on the +current whether it would carry the iceberg into an eddy which might +drive it on the coast, or continue to drift it towards the north. + +Which was the more admissible hypothesis? + +Captain Len Guy, West, Hurliguerly, and I talked over the matter, +while the crew discussed it among themselves. Finally, it was agreed +that the current tended rather to carry the iceberg towards the +northern point of land. + +"After all," said Captain Len Guy, "if it is habitable during +the months of the summer season, it does not look like being +inhabited, since we cannot descry a human being on the shore." + +"Let us bear in mind, captain," said I, "that the iceberg is +not calculated to attract attention as the _Halbrane_ would have +done." + +"Evidently, Mr. Jeorling; and the natives, if there were any, +would have been collected on the beach to see the _Halbrane_ +already." + +"We must not conclude, captain, because we do not see any +natives--" + +"Certainly not, Mr. Jeorling; but you will agree with me that the +aspect of this land is very unlike that of Tsalal Island when the +_Jane_ reached it; there is nothing here but desolation and +barrenness." + +"I acknowledge that--barrenness and desolation, that is all. +Nevertheless, I want to ask you whether it is your intention to go +ashore, captain?" + +"With the boat?" + +"With the boat, should the current carry our iceberg away from the +land." + +"We have not an hour to lose, Mr. Jeorling, and the delay of a few +hours might condemn us to a cruel winter stay, if we arrived too +late at the iceberg barrier." + +"And, considering the distance, we are not too soon," observed +West. + +"I grant it," I replied, still persisting. "But, to leave this +land behind us without ever having set foot on it, without having +made sure that it does not preserve the traces of an encampment, if +your brother, captain--his companions--" + +Captain Len Guy shook his head. How could the castaways have +supported life in this desolate region for several months? + +Besides, the British flag was hoisted on the summit of the iceberg, +and William Guy would have recognized it and come down to the shore +had he been living. + +No one. No one. + +At this moment, West, who had been observing certain points of +approach, said,-- + +"Let us wait a little before we come to a decision. In less than +an hour we shall be able to decide. Our speed is slackening, it +seems to me, and it is possible that an eddy may bring us back +obliquely to the coast." + +"That is my opinion too," said the boatswain, "and if our +floating machine is not stationary, it is nearly so. It seems to be +turning round." + +West and Hurliguerly were not mistaken. For some reason or other the +iceberg was getting out of the course which it had followed +continuously. A giratory movement had succeeded to that of drifting, +owing to the action of an eddy which set towards the coast. + +Besides, several ice-mountains, in front of us, had just run aground +on the edge of the shore. It was, then, useless to discuss whether +we should take to the boat or not. According as we approached, the +desolation of the land became more and more apparent, and the +prospect of enduring six months' wintering there would have +appalled the stoutest hearts. + +At five in the afternoon, the iceberg plunged into a deep rift in +the coast ending in a long point on the right, and there stuck fast. + +"On shore! On shore!" burst from every man, like a single +exclamation, and the men were already hurrying down the slope of the +iceberg, when West commanded: + +"Wait for orders!" + +Some hesitation was shown--especially on the part of Hearne and +several of his comrades. Then the instinct of discipline prevailed, +and finally the whole crew ranged themselves around Captain Len Guy. +It was not necessary to lower the boat, the iceberg being in contact +with the point. + +The captain, the boatswain, and myself, preceding the others, were +the first to quit the camp; ours were the first human feet to tread +this virgin and volcanic soil. + +We walked for twenty minutes on rough land, strewn with rocks of +igneous origin, solidified lava, dusty slag, and grey ashes, but +without enough clay to grow even the hardiest plants. + +With some risk and difficulty, Captain Len Guy, the boatswain, and I +succeeded in climbing the hill; this exploit occupied a whole hour. +Although evening had now come, it brought no darkness in its train. +From the top of the hill we could see over an extent of from thirty +to forty miles, and this was what we saw. + +Behind us lay the open sea, laden with floating masses; a great +number of these had recently heaped themselves up against the beach +and rendered it almost inaccessible. + +On the west was a strip of hilly land, which extended beyond our +sight, and was washed on its east side by a boundless sea. It was +evident that we had been carried by the drift through a strait. + +Ah! if we had only had our _Halbrane_! But our sole possession was a +frail craft barely capable of containing a dozen men, and we were +twenty-three! + +There was nothing for it but to go down to the shore again, to carry +the tents to the beach, and take measures in view of a winter +sojourn under the terrible conditions imposed upon us by +circumstances. + +On our return to the coast the boatswain discovered several caverns +in the granitic cliffs, sufficiently spacious to house us all and +afford storage for the cargo of the _Halbrane_. Whatever might be our +ultimate decision, we could not do better than place our material +and instal ourselves in this opportune shelter. + +After we had reascended the slopes of the iceberg and reached our +camp, Captain Len Guy had the men mustered. The only missing man was +Dirk Peters, who had decidedly isolated himself from the crew. There +was nothing to fear from him, however; he would be with the faithful +against the mutinous, and under all circumstances we might count upon +him. When the circle had been formed, Captain Len Guy spoke, without +allowing any sign of discouragement to appear, and explained the +position with the utmost frankness and lucidity, stating in the +first place that it was absolutely necessary to lower the cargo to +the coast and stow it away in one of the caverns. Concerning the +vital question of food, he stated that the supply of flour, +preserved meat, and dried vegetables would suffice for the winter, +however prolonged, and on that of fuel he was satisfied that we +should not want for coal, provided it was not wasted; and it would +be possible to economize it, as the hibernating waifs might brave +the cold of the polar zone under a covering of snow and a roof of +ice. + +Was the captain's tone of security feigned? I did not think so, +especially as West approved of what he said. + +A third question raised by Hearne remained, and was well calculated +to arouse jealousy and anger among the crew. It was the question of +the use to be made of the only craft remaining to us. Ought the boat +to be kept for the needs of our hibernation, or used to enable us to +return to the iceberg barrier? + +Captain Len Guy would not pronounce upon this; he desired to +postpone the decision for twenty-four or forty-eight hours. The +boat, carrying the provisions necessary for such a voyage, could not +accommodate more than eleven or, at the outside, twelve men. If the +departure of the boat were agreed to, then its passengers must be +selected by lot. The captain proceeded to state that neither West, +the boatswain, I, nor he would claim any privilege, but would submit +to the fortune of the lot with all the others. Both Martin Holt and +Hardy were perfectly capable of taking the boat to the fishing-grounds, +where the whalers would still be found. + +Then, those to whom the lot should fall were not to forget their +comrades, left to winter on the eighty-sixth parallel, and were to +send a ship to take them off at the return of summer. + +All this was said in a tone as calm as it was firm. I must do +Captain Len Guy the justice to say that he rose to the occasion. + +When he had concluded--without any interruption even from +Hearne--no one made a remark. There was, indeed, none to be made, +since, in the given case, lots were to be drawn under conditions of +perfect equality. + +The hour of rest having arrived, each man entered the camp, partook +of the supper prepared by Endicott, and went to sleep for the last +time under the tents. + +Dirk Peters had not reappeared, and I sought for him in vain. + +On the following day, the 7th of February, everybody set to work +early with a will. The boat was let down with all due precaution to +the base of the iceberg, and drawn up by the men on a little sandy +beach out of reach of the water. It was in perfectly good condition, +and thoroughly serviceable. + +The boatswain then set to work on the former contents of the +_Halbrane_, furniture, bedding, sails, clothing, instruments, and +utensils. Stowed away in a cabin, these things would no longer be +exposed to the knocking about and damage of the iceberg. The cases +containing preserved food and the casks of spirits were rapidly +carried ashore. + +I worked with the captain and West at this onerous task, and Dirk +Peters also turned up and lent the valuable assistance of his great +strength, but he did not utter a word to anyone. + +Our occupation continued on the 8th, 9th, and 10th February, and our +task was finished in the afternoon of the 10th. The cargo was safely +stowed in the interior of a large grotto, with access to it by a +narrow opening. We were to inhabit the adjoining grotto, and +Endicott set up his kitchen in the latter, on the advice of the +boatswain. Thus we should profit by the heat of the stove, which was +to cook our food and warm the cavern during the long days, or rather +the long nights of the austral winter. + +During the process of housing and storing, I observed nothing to +arouse suspicion in the bearing of Hearne and the Falklands men. +Nevertheless, the half-breed was kept on guard at the boat, which +might easily have been seized upon the beach. + +Hurliguerly, who observed his comrades closely, appeared less +anxious. + +On that same evening Captain Len Guy, having reassembled his people, +stated that the question should be discussed on the morrow, adding +that, if it were decided in the affirmative, lots should be drawn +immediately. No reply was made. + +It was late, and half dark outside, for at this date the sun was on +the edge of the horizon, and would very soon disappear below it. + +I had been asleep for some hours when I was awakened by a great +shouting at a short distance. I sprang up instantly and darted out +of the cavern, simultaneously with the captain and West, who had +also been suddenly aroused from sleep. + +"The boat! the boat!" cried West. + +The boat was no longer in its place--that place so jealously +guarded by Dirk Peters. + +After they had pushed the boat into the sea, three men had got into +it with bales and casks, while ten others strove to control the +half-breed. + +Hearne was there, and Martin Holt also; the latter, it seemed to me, +was not interfering. + +These wretches, then, intended to depart before the lots were drawn; +they meant to forsake us. They had succeeded in surprising Dirk +Peters, and they would have killed him, had he not fought hard for +life. + +In the face of this mutiny, knowing our inferiority of numbers, and +not knowing whether he might count on all the old crew, Captain Len +Guy re-entered the cavern with West in order to procure arms. Hearne +and his accomplices were armed. + +I was about to follow them when the following words arrested my +steps. + +The half-breed, overpowered by numbers, had been knocked down, and +at this moment Martin Holt, in gratitude to the man who saved his +life, was rushing to his aid, but Hearne called out to him,-- + +"Leave the fellow alone, and come with us!" + +Martin Holt hesitated. + +"Yes, leave him alone, I say; leave Dirk Peters, the assassin of +your brother, alone." + +"The assassin of my brother!" + +"Your brother, killed on board the _Grampus_--" + +"Killed! by Dirk Peters?" + +"Yes! Killed and eaten--eaten--eaten!" repeated Hearne, who +pronounced the hateful words with a kind of howl. + +And then, at a sign from Hearne, two of his comrades seized Martin +Holt and dragged him into the boat. Hearne was instantly followed by +all those whom he had induced to join in this criminal deed. + +At that moment Dirk Peters rose from the ground, and sprang upon one +of the Falklands men as he was in the act of stepping on the +platform of the boat, lifted him up bodily, hurled him round his +head and dashed his brains out against a rock. + +In an instant the half-breed fell, shot in the shoulder by a bullet +from Hearne's pistol, and the boat was pushed off. + +Then Captain Len Guy and West came out of the cavern--the whole +scene had passed in less than a minute--and ran down to the point, +which they reached together with the boatswain, Hardy, Francis, and +Stern. + +The boat, which was drawn by the current, was already some distance +off, and the tide was falling rapidly. + +West shouldered his gun and fired; a sailor dropped into the bottom +of the boat. A second shot, fired by Captain Len Guy, grazed +Hearne's breast, and the ball was lost among the ice-blocks at the +moment when the boat disappeared behind the iceberg. + +The only thing for us to do was to cross to the other side of the +point. The current would carry the wretches thither, no doubt, +before it bore them northward. If they passed within range, and if +a second shot should hit Hearne, either killing or wounding him, his +companions might perhaps decide on coming back to us. + +A quarter of an hour elapsed. When the boat appeared at the other +side of the point, it was so far off that our bullets could not +reach it. Hearne had already had the sail set, and the boat, +impelled by wind and current jointly, was soon no more than a white +speck on the face of the waters, and speedily disappeared. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. +FOUND AT LAST. + + +The question of our wintering on the land whereon we had been thrown +was settled for us. But, after all, the situation was not changed +for those among the nine (now only remaining of the twenty-three) +who should not have drawn the lot of departure. Who could speculate +upon the chances of the whole nine? Might not all of them have drawn +the lot of "stay"? And, when every chance was fully weighed, was +that of those who had left us the best? To this question there could +be no answer. + +When the boat had disappeared, Captain Len Guy and his companions +retraced their steps towards the cavern in which we must live for +all the time during which we could not go out, in the dread darkness +of the antarctic winter. My first thought was of Dirk Peters, who, +being wounded, could not follow us when we hurried to the other side +of the point. + +On reaching the cavern I failed to find the half-breed. Was he +severely wounded? Should we have to mourn the death of this man who +was as faithful to us as to his "poor Pym"? + +"Let us search for him, Mr. Jeorling!" cried the boatswain. + +"We will go together," said the captain. "Dirk Peters would never +have forsaken us, and we will not forsake him." + +"Would he come back," said I, "now that what he thought was +known to him and me only has come out?" + +I informed my companions of the reason why the name of Ned Holt had +been changed to that of Parker in Arthur Pym's narrative, and of +the circumstances under which the half-breed had apprised me of the +fact. At the same time I urged every consideration that might +exculpate him, dwelling in particular upon the point that if the lot +had fallen to Dirk Peters, he would have been the victim of the +others' hunger. + +"Dirk Peters confided this secret to you only?" inquired Captain +Len Guy. + +"To me only, captain." + +"And you have kept it?" + +"Absolutely." + +"Then I cannot understand how it came to the knowledge of +Hearne." + +"At first," I replied, "I thought Hearne might have talked in +his sleep, and that it was by chance Martin Holt learned the secret. +After reflection, however, I recalled to mind that when the +half-breed related the scene on the _Grampus_ to me, he was in my +cabin, and the side sash was raised. I have reason to think that the +man at the wheel overheard our conversation. Now that man was +Hearne, who, in order to hear it more clearly, let go the wheel, so +that the _Halbrane_ lurched--" + +"I remember," said West. "I questioned the fellow sharply, and +sent him down into the hold." + +"Well, then, captain," I resumed, "it was from that day that +Hearne made up to Martin Holt. Hurliguerly called my attention to +the fact." + +"Of course he did," said the boatswain, "for Hearne, not being +capable of managing the boat which he intended to seize, required a +master-hand like Holt." + +"And so," I said, "he kept on urging Holt to question the +half-breed concerning his brother's fate, and you know how Holt +came at last to learn the fearful truth. Martin Holt seemed to be +stupefied by the revelation. The others dragged him away, and now he +is with them!" We were all agreed that things had happened as I +supposed, and now the question was, did Dirk Peters, in his present +state of mind, mean to absent himself? Would he consent to resume +his place among us? + +We all left the cavern, and after an hour's search we came in +sight of Dirk Peters, whose first impulse was to escape from us. At +length, however, Hurliguerly and Francis came up with him. He stood +still and made no resistance. I advanced and spoke to him, the +others did the same. Captain Len Guy offered him his hand, which he +took after a moment's hesitation. Then, without uttering a single +word, he returned towards the beach. + +From that day no allusion was ever made to the tragic story of the +_Grampus_. Dirk Peters' wound proved to be slight; he merely wrapped +a piece of sailcloth round the injured arm, and went off to his work +with entire unconcern. + +We made all the preparation in our power for a prolonged +hibernation. Winter was threatening us. For some days past the sun +hardly showed at all through the mists. The temperature fell to 36 +degrees and would rise no more, while the solar rays, casting +shadows of endless length upon the soil, gave hardly any heat. The +captain made us put on warm woollen clothes without waiting for the +cold to become more severe. + +Icebergs, packs, streams, and drifts came in greater numbers from +the south. Some of these struck and stayed upon the coast, which was +already heaped up with ice, but the greater number disappeared in +the direction of the north-east. + +"All these pieces," said the boatswain, "will go to the +closing up of the iceberg wall. If Hearne and his lot of scoundrels +are not ahead of them, I imagine they will find the door shut, and +as they have no key to open it with--" + +"I suppose you think, boatswain, that our case is less desperate +than theirs?" + +"I do think so, Mr. Jeorling, and I have always thought so. If +everything had been done as it was settled, and the lot had fallen +to me to go with the boat, I would have given up my turn to one of +the others. After all, there is something in feeling dry ground +under your feet. I don't wish the death of anybody, but if Hearne +and his friends do not succeed in clearing the iceberg barrier--if +they are doomed to pass the winter on the ice, reduced for food to a +supply that will only last a few weeks, you know the fate that +awaits them!" + +"Yes, a fate worse than ours!" + +"And besides," said the boatswain, "even supposing they do +reach the Antarctic Circle. If the whalers have already left the +fishing-grounds, it is not a laden and overladen craft that will +keep the sea until the Australian coasts are in sight." + +This was my own opinion, and also that of the captain and West. + +During the following four days, we completed the storage of the +whole of our belongings, and made some excursions into the interior +of the country, finding "all barren," and not a trace that any +landing had ever been made there. + +One day, Captain Len Guy proposed that we should give a geographical +name to the region whither the iceberg had carried us. It was named +Halbrane Land, in memory of our schooner, and we called the strait +that separated the two parts of the polar continent the Jane Sound. + +Then we took to shooting the penguins which swarmed upon the rocks, +and to capturing some of the amphibious animals which frequented the +beach. We began to feel the want of fresh meat, and Endicott's +cooking rendered seal and walrus flesh quite palatable. Besides, the +fat of these creatures would serve, at need, to warm the cavern and +feed the cooking-stove. Our most formidable enemy would be the cold, +and we must fight it by every means within our power. It remained +to be seen whether the amphibia would not forsake Halbrane Land at +the approach of winter, and seek a less rigorous climate in lower +latitudes. Fortunately there were hundreds of other animals to +secure our little company from hunger, and even from thirst, at +need. The beach was the home of numbers of galapagos--a kind of +turtle so called from an archipelago in the equinoctial sea, where +also they abound, and mentioned by Arthur Pym as supplying food to +the islanders. It will be remembered that Pym and Peters found three +of these galapagos in the native boat which carried them away from +Tsalal Island. + +The movement of these huge creatures is slow, heavy, and waddling; +they have thin necks two feet long, triangular snake-like heads, and +can go without food for very long periods. + +Arthur Pym has compared the antarctic turtles to dromedaries, +because, like those ruminants, they have a pouch just where the neck +begins, which contains from two to three gallons of cold fresh +water. He relates, before the scene of the lot-drawing, that but for +one of these turtles the shipwrecked crew of the _Grampus_ must have +died of hunger and thirst. If Pym is to be believed, some of the +great turtles weigh from twelve to fifteen hundred pounds. Those of +Halbrane Land did not go beyond seven or eight hundred pounds, but +their flesh was none the less savoury. + +On the 19th of February an incident occurred--an incident which +those who acknowledge the intervention of Providence in human +affairs will recognize as providential. + +It was eight o'clock in the morning; the weather was calm; the sky +was tolerably clear; the thermometer stood at thirty-two degrees +Fahrenheit. + +We were assembled in the cavern, with the exception of the +boatswain, waiting for our breakfast, which Endicott was preparing, +and were about to take our places at table, when we heard a call +from outside. + +The voice was Hurliguerly's, and we hurried out. On seeing us, he +cried,-- + +"Come--come quickly!" + +He was standing on a rock at the foot of the hillock above the beach +in which Halbrane Land ended beyond the point, and his right hand +was stretched out towards the sea. + +"What is it?" asked Captain Len Guy. + +"A boat." + +"Is it the _Halbrane's_ boat coming back?" + +"No, captain--it is not." + +Then we perceived a boat, not to be mistaken for that of our +schooner in form or dimensions, drifting without oars or paddle, +seemingly abandoned to the current. + +We had but one idea in common--to seize at any cost upon this +derelict craft, which would, perhaps, prove our salvation. But how +were we to reach it? how were we to get it in to the point of +Halbrane Land? + +While we were looking distractedly at the boat and at each other, +there came a sudden splash at the end of the hillock, as though a +body had fallen into the sea. + +It was Dirk Peters, who, having flung off his clothes, had sprung +from the top of a rock, and was swimming rapidly towards the boat +before we made him out. + +We cheered him heartily. I never beheld anything like that swimming. +He bounded through the waves like a porpoise, and indeed he +possessed the strength and swiftness of one. What might not be +expected of such a man! + +In a few minutes the half-breed had swum several cables' lengths +towards the boat in an oblique direction. We could only see his head +like a black speck on the surface of the rolling waves. A period of +suspense, of intense watching of the brave swimmer succeeded. +Surely, surely he would reach the boat; but must he not be carried +away with it? Was it to be believed that even his great strength +would enable him, swimming, to tow it to the beach? + +"After all, why should there not be oars in the boat?" said the +boatswain. + +[Illustration: William Guy.] + +"He has it! He has it! Hurrah, Dirk, hurrah!" shouted +Hurliguerly, and Endicott echoed his exultant cheer. + +The half-breed had, in fact, reached the boat and raised himself +alongside half out of the water. His big, strong hand grasped the +side, and at the risk of causing the boat to capsize, he hoisted +himself up to the side, stepped over it, and sat down to draw his +breath. + +Almost instantly a shout reached our ears. It was uttered by Dirk +Peters. What had he found? Paddles! It must be so, for we saw him +seat himself in the front of the boat, and paddle with all his +strength in striving to get out of the current. + +"Come along!" said the captain, and, turning the base of the +hillock, we all ran along the edge of the beach between the blackish +stones that bestrewed it. + +After some time, West stopped us. The boat had reached the shelter +of a small projection at that place, and it was evident that it +would be run ashore there. + +When it was within five or six cables' lengths, and the eddy was +helping it on, Dirk Peters let go the paddles, stooped towards the +after-part of the boat, and then raised himself, holding up an inert +body. + +An agonized cry from Captain Len Guy rent the air! + +"My brother--my brother!" + +"He is living! He is living!" shouted Dirk Peters. + +A moment later, the boat had touched the beach, and Captain Len Guy +held his brother in his arms. + +Three of William Guy's companions lay apparently lifeless in the +bottom of the boat. + +And these four men were all that remained of the crew of the _Jane_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. +ELEVEN YEARS IN A FEW PAGES. + + +The heading of the following chapter indicates that the adventures +of William Guy and his companions after the destruction of the English +schooner, and the details of their history subsequent to the +departure of Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters, are about to be narrated +with all possible brevity. + +We carried our treasure-trove to the cavern, and had the happiness of +restoring all four men to life. In reality, it was hunger, nothing +but hunger, which had reduced the poor fellows to the semblance of +death. + + * * * * * + +On the 8th of February, 1828, the crew of the _Jane_, having no reason +to doubt the good faith of the population of Tsalal Island, or that +of their chief, Too-Wit, disembarked, in order to visit the village +of Klock-Klock, having previously put the schooner into a state of +defence, leaving six men on board. + +The crew, counting William Guy, the captain, Arthur Pym, and Dirk +Peters, formed a body of thirty-two men, armed with guns, pistols, +and knives. The dog Tiger accompanied them. + +On reaching the narrow gorge leading to the village, preceded and +followed by the numerous warriors of Too-Wit, the little company +divided, Arthur Pym, Dirk Peters, and Allen (the sailor) entering a +cleft in the hill-side with the intention of crossing it to the +other side. From that moment their companions were never to see them +more. + +After a short interval a shock was felt. The opposite hill fell down +in a vast heap, burying William Guy and his twenty-eight companions. + +Twenty-two of these unfortunate men were crushed to death on the +instant, and their bodies would never be found under that mass of +earth. + +Seven, miraculously sheltered in the depth of a great cleft of the +hill, had survived the catastrophe. These were William Guy, +Patterson, Roberts, Covin, Trinkle, also Forbes and Sexton, since +dead. As for Tiger, they knew not whether he had perished in the +landslip, or whether he had escaped. There existed in the right side +of the hill, as well as in the left, on either side of the fissure, +certain winding passages, and it was by crawling along these in the +darkness that William Guy, Patterson, and the others reached a +cavity which let in light and air in abundance. From this shelter +they beheld the attack on the _Jane_ by sixty pirogues, the defence +made by the six men on board, the invasion of the ship by the +savages, and finally the explosion which caused the death of a vast +number of natives as well as the complete destruction of the ship. + +Too-Wit and the Tsalal islanders were at first terrified by the +effects of this explosion, but probably still more disappointed. +Their instincts of pillage could not be gratified, because some +valueless wreckage was all that remained of the ship and her cargo, +and they had no reason to suppose that any of the crew had survived +the cleverly-contrived collapse of the hill. Hence it came about +that Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters on the one side, and William Guy and +his companions on the other, were enabled to remain undisturbed in +the labyrinths of Klock-Klock, where they fed on the flesh of +bitterns--these they could catch with their hands--and the fruit +of the nut-trees which grow on the hill-sides. They procured fire by +rubbing pieces of soft against pieces of hard wood; there was a +quantity of both within their reach. + +After a whole week of this confinement, Arthur Pym and the +half-breed had succeeded, as we know, in leaving their hiding-place, +securing a boat, and abandoning Tsalal Island, but William Guy and +his companions had not yet found an opportunity to escape. + +After they had been shut up in the labyrinth for twenty-one days, the +birds on which they lived began to fail them, and they recognized +that their only means of escaping hunger--(they had not to fear +thirst, for there was a spring of fresh water in the interior of the +hill)--was to go down again to the coast, lay hands upon a native +boat, and get out to sea. Where were the fugitives to go, and what +was to become of them without provisions?--these were questions +that had to be asked, and which nobody could answer. Nevertheless, +they would not have hesitated to attempt the adventure if they could +have a few hours of darkness; but, at that time of year, the sun did +not as yet go down behind the horizon of the eighty-fourth parallel. + +Death would probably have put an end to their misery had not the +situation been changed by the following events. + +On the 22nd of February, in the morning, William Guy and Patterson +were talking together, in terrible perplexity of mind, at the +orifice of the cavity that opened upon the country. They no longer +knew how to provide for the wants of seven persons, who were then +reduced to eating nuts only, and were suffering in consequence from +severe pain in the head and stomach. They could see big turtles +crawling on the beach, but how could they venture to go thither, +with hundreds of natives coming and going about their several +occupations, with their constant cry of _tékéli-li_? + +Suddenly, this crowd of people became violently agitated. Men, +women, and children ran wildly about on every side. Some of the +savages even took to their boats as though a great danger were at +hand. + +What was happening? + +William Guy and his companions were very soon informed. The cause of +the tumult was the appearance of an unknown animal, a terrible +quadruped, which dashed into the midst of the islanders, snapping at +and biting them indiscriminately, as it sprang at their throats with +a hoarse growling. + +And yet the infuriated animal was alone, and might easily have been +killed by stones or arrows. Why then did a crowd of savages manifest +such abject terror? Why did they take to flight? Why did they appear +incapable of defending themselves against this one beast? + +The animal was white, and the sight of it had produced the +phenomenon previously observed, that inexplicable terror of +whiteness common to all the natives of Tsalal. + +To their extreme surprise, William Guy and his companions recognized +the strange animal as the dog Tiger. + +Yes! Tiger had escaped from the crumbling mass of the hill and +betaken himself to the interior of the island, whence he had +returned to Klock-Klock, to spread terror among the natives. But +Tiger was no mere phantom foe; he was the most dangerous and deadly +of enemies, for the poor animal was mad, and his fangs were fatal! + +This was the reason why the greater part of the Tsalal islanders +took to flight, headed by their chief, Too-Wit, and the Wampos, who +are the leading personages of Klock-Klock. It was under these +extraordinary circumstances that they abandoned their island, +whither they were destined never to return. + +Although the boats carried off the bulk of the population, a +considerable number still remained on Tsalal, having no means of +escape, and their fate accomplished itself quickly. Several natives +who were bitten by Tiger developed hydrophobia rapidly, and attacked +the others. Fearful scenes ensued, and are briefly to be summed up +in one dismal statement. The bones we had seen in or near Klock-Klock +were those of the poor savages, which had lain there bleaching for +eleven years! + +The poor dog had died, after he had done his fell work, in a corner +on the beach, where Dirk Peters found his skeleton and the collar +bearing the name of Arthur Pym. + +Then, after those natives who could not escape from the island had +all perished in the manner described, William Guy, Patterson, +Trinkle, Covin, Forbes, and Sexton ventured to come out of the +labyrinth, where they were on the verge of death by starvation. + +What sort of existence was that of the seven survivors of the +expedition during the eleven ensuing years? + +On the whole, it was more endurable than might have been supposed. +The natural products of an extremely fertile soil and the presence +of a certain number of domestic animals secured them against want of +food; they had only to make out the best shelter for themselves they +could contrive, and wait for an opportunity of getting away from the +island with as much patience as might be granted to them. And from +whence could such an opportunity come? Only from one of the chances +within the resources of Providence. + +Captain William Guy, Patterson, and their five companions descended +the ravine, which was half filled with the fallen masses of the +hill-face, amid heaps of scoria and blocks of black granite. Before +they left this gorge, it occurred to William Guy to explore the +fissure on the right into which Arthur Pym, Dirk Peters, and Allen +had turned, but he found it blocked up; it was impossible for him to +get into the pass. Thus he remained in ignorance of the existence of +the natural or artificial labyrinth which corresponded with the one +he had just left, and probably communicated with it under the dry +bed of the torrent. The little company, having passed the chaotic +barrier that intercepted the northern route, proceeded rapidly +towards the north-west. There, on the coast, at about three miles +from Klock-Klock, they established themselves in a grotto very like +that in our own occupation on the coast of Halbrane Land. + +And it was in this place that, during long, hopeless years, the +seven survivors of the _Jane_ lived, as we were about to do ourselves, +but under better conditions, for the fertility of the soil of Tsalal +furnished them with resources unknown in Halbrane Land. In reality, +we were condemned to perish when our provisions should be exhausted, +but they could have waited indefinitely--and they did wait. + +They had never entertained any doubt that Arthur Pym, Dirk Peters, +and Allen had perished, and this was only too true in Allen's +case. How, indeed, could they ever have imagined that Pym and the +half-breed had got hold of a boat and made their escape from Tsalal +Island? + +So, then, as William Guy told us, not an incident occurred to break +the monotony of that existence of eleven years--not even the +reappearance of the islanders, who were kept away from Tsalal by +superstitious terror. No danger had threatened them during all that +time; but, of course, as it became more and more prolonged, they +lost the hope of ever being rescued. At first, with the return of +the fine season, when the sea was once more open, they had thought +it possible that a ship would be sent in search of the _Jane_. But +after four or five years they relinquished all hope. + +There is no need for dwelling on this period, which extends from the +year 1828 to the year 1839. The winters were hard. The summer did +indeed extend its beneficent influence to the islands of the Tsalal +group, but the cold season, with its attendant snows, rains, and +tempests, spared them none of its severity. + +During seven months Captain William Guy had not lost one of those +who had come with him safe and sound out of the trap set for them at +Klock-Klock, and this was due, no doubt, to their robust +constitutions, remarkable power of endurance, and great strength of +character. Alas! misfortune was making ready to fall on them. + +The month of May had come--it corresponds in those regions to the +month of November in northern lands--and the ice-packs which the +current carried towards the north were beginning to drift past +Tsalal. One day, one of the seven men failed to return to the +cavern. They called, they waited, they searched for him. All was in +vain. He did not reappear; no doubt he had been drowned. He was +never more seen by his fellow-exiles. + +This man was Patterson, the faithful companion of William Guy. + +Now, what William Guy did not know, but we told him, was that +Patterson--under what circumstances none would ever learn--had +been carried away on the surface of an ice-block, where he died of +hunger. And on that ice-block, which had travelled so far as Prince +Edward Island, the boatswain had discovered the corpse of the +unfortunate man almost decomposed by the action of the warmer waters. + +When Captain Len Guy told his brother of the finding of the body of +Patterson, and how it was owing to the notes in his pocket-book that +the _Halbrane_ had been enabled to proceed towards the antarctic seas, +William Guy hid his face in his hands and wept. + +Other misfortunes followed upon this one. + +Five months after the disappearance of Patterson, in the middle of +October, Tsalal Island was laid waste from coast to coast by an +earthquake, which destroyed the south-western group almost entirely. +William Guy and his companions must soon have perished on the barren +land, which no longer could give them food, had not the means of +leaving its coast, now merely an expanse of tumbled rocks, been +afforded them in an almost miraculous manner. Two days after the +earthquake, the current carried ashore within a few hundred yards of +their cavern a boat which had drifted from the island group on the +south-west. + +Without the delay of even one day, the boat was laden with as much +of the remaining provisions as it could contain, and the six men +embarked in it, bidding adieu for ever to the now uninhabitable +island. + +Unfortunately a very strong breeze was blowing; it was impossible to +resist it, and the boat was driven southwards by that very same +current which had caused our iceberg to drift to the coast of +Halbrane Land. + +For two months and a half these poor fellows were borne across the +open sea, with no control over their course. It was not until the +2nd of January in the present year (1840) that they sighted +land--east of the _Jane_ Sound. + +Now, we already knew this land was not more than fifty miles from +Halbrane Land. Yes! so small, relatively, was the distance that +separated us from those whom we had sought for in the antarctic +regions far and wide, and concerning whom we had lost hope. + +Their boat had gone ashore far to the south-east of us. But on how +different a coast from that of Tsalal Island, or, rather, on one how +like that of Halbrane Land! Nothing was to be seen but sand and +stones; neither trees, shrubs, nor plants of any kind. Their +provisions were almost exhausted; William Guy and his companions +were soon reduced to extreme want, and two of the little company, +Forbes and Sexton, died. + +The remaining four resolved not to remain a single day longer in the +place where they were doomed to die of hunger. They embarked in the +boat with the small supply of food still remaining, and once more +abandoned themselves to the current, without having been able to +verify their position, for want of instruments. + +Thus had they been borne upon the unknown deep for twenty-five days, +their resources were completely exhausted, and they had not eaten +for forty-eight hours, when the boat, with its occupants lying +inanimate at the bottom of it, was sighted from Halbrane Land. The +rest is already known to the reader of this strange eventful history. + +And now the two brothers were at length reunited in that remote +corner of the big world which we had dubbed Halbrane Land. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. +"WE WERE THE FIRST." + + +Two days later not one of the survivors from the two schooners, the +_Jane_ and the _Halbrane_, remained upon any coast of the Antarctic +region. + +On the 21st of February, at six o'clock in the morning, the boat, +with us all (we numbered thirteen) in it, left the little creek and +doubled the point of Halbrane Land. On the previous day we had fully +and finally debated the question of our departure, with the +understanding that if it were settled in the affirmative, we should +start without delay. + +The captain of the _Jane_ was for an immediate departure, and Captain +Len Guy was not opposed to it. I willingly sided with them, and West +was of a similar opinion. The boatswain was inclined to oppose us. +He considered it imprudent to give up a certainty for the uncertain, +and he was backed by Endicott, who would in any case say "ditto" +to his "Mr. Burke." However, when the time came, Hurliguerly +conformed to the view of the majority with a good grace, and +declared himself quite ready to set out, since we were all of that +way of thinking. + +Our boat was one of those in use in the Tsalal Archipelago for +plying between the islands. We knew, from the narrative of Arthur +Pym, that these boats are of two kinds, one resembling rafts or flat +boats, the other strongly-built pirogues. Our boat was of the former +kind, forty feet long, six feet in width, and worked by several +paddles. + +We called our little craft the _Paracuta_, after a fish which abounds +in these waters. A rough image of that denizen of the southern deep +was cut upon the gunwale. + +Needless to say that the greater part of the cargo of the _Halbrane_ +was left in our cavern, fully protected from the weather, at the +disposal of any shipwrecked people who might chance to be thrown on +the coast of Halbrane Land. The boatswain had planted a spar on the +top of this slope to attract attention. But, our two schooners +notwithstanding, what vessel would ever venture into such latitudes? + +_Nota Bene_.--We were just thirteen--the fatal number. Perfectly +good relations subsisted among us. We had no longer to dread the +rebellion of a Hearne. (How often we speculated upon the fate of +those whom he had beguiled!) + +At seven o'clock, the extreme point of Halbrane Land lay five +miles behind us, and in the evening we gradually lost sight of the +heights that variated that part of the coast. + +I desire to lay special stress on the fact that not a single scrap +of iron entered into the construction of this boat, not so much as a +nail or a bolt, for that metal was entirely unknown to the Tsalal +islanders. The planks were bound together by a sort of liana, or +creeping-plant, and caulked with moss steeped in pitch, which was +turned by contact with the sea-water to a substance as hard as metal. + +I have nothing special to record during the week that succeeded our +departure. The breeze blew steadily from the south, and we did not +meet with any unfavourable current between the banks of the Jane +Sound. + +During those first eight days, the _Paracuta_, by paddling when the +wind fell, had kept up the speed that was indispensable for our +reaching the Pacific Ocean within a short time. + +The desolate aspect of the land remained the same, while the strait +was already visited by floating drifts, packs of one to two hundred +feet in length, some oblong, others circular, and also by icebergs +which our boat passed easily. We were made anxious, however, by the +fact that these masses were proceeding towards the iceberg barrier, +for would they not close the passages, which ought to be still open +at this time? + +I shall mention here that in proportion as Dirk Peters was carried +farther and farther from the places wherein no trace of his poor Pym +had been found, he was more silent than ever, and no longer even +answered me when I addressed him. + +It must not be forgotten that since our iceberg had passed beyond +the south pole, we were in the zone of eastern longitudes counted +from the zero of Greenwich to the hundred and eightieth degree. All +hope must therefore be abandoned of our either touching at the +Falklands, or finding whaling-ships in the waters of the Sandwich +Islands, the South Orkneys, or South Georgia. + +Our voyage proceeded under unaltered conditions for ten days. Our +little craft was perfectly sea-worthy. The two captains and West +fully appreciated its soundness, although, as I have previously +said, not a scrap of iron had a place in its construction. It had +not once been necessary to repair its seams, so staunch were they. +To be sure, the sea was smooth, its long, rolling waves were hardly +ruffled on their surface. + +On the 10th of March, with the same longitude the observation gave +7° 13' for latitude. The speed of the _Paracuta_ had then been +thirty miles in each twenty-four hours. If this rate of progress +could be maintained for three weeks, there was every chance of our +finding the passes open, and being able to get round the iceberg +barrier; also that the whaling-ships would not yet have left the +fishing-grounds. + +The sun was on the verge of the horizon, and the time was +approaching when the Antarctic region would be shrouded in polar +night. Fortunately, in re-ascending towards the north we were +getting into waters from whence light was not yet banished. Then did +we witness a phenomenon as extraordinary as any of those described +by Arthur Pym. For three or four hours, sparks, accompanied by a +sharp noise, shot out of our fingers' ends, our hair, and our +beards. There was an electric snowstorm, with great flakes falling +loosely, and the contact produced this strange luminosity. The sea +rose so suddenly and tumbled about so wildly that the _Paracuta_ was +several times in danger of being swallowed up by the waves, but we +got through the mystic-seeming tempest all safe and sound. + +Nevertheless, space was thenceforth but imperfectly lighted. +Frequent mists came up and bounded our outlook to a few +cable-lengths. Extreme watchfulness and caution were necessary to +avoid collision with the floating masses of ice, which were +travelling more slowly than the _Paracuta_. + +It is also to be noted that, on the southern side, the sky was +frequently lighted up by the broad and brilliant rays of the polar +aurora. + +The temperature fell very perceptibly, and no longer rose above +twenty-three degrees. + +Forty-eight hours later Captain Len Guy and his brother succeeded +with great difficulty in taking an approximate observation, with the +following results of their calculations: + + Latitude: 75° 17' south. + Latitude: 118° 3' east. + +At this date, therefore (12th March), the _Paracuta_ was distant from +the waters of the Antarctic Circle only four hundred miles. + +During the night a thick fog came on, with a subsidence of the +breeze. This was to be regretted, for it increased the risk of +collision with the floating ice. Of course fog could not be a +surprise to us, being where we were, but what did surprise us was +the gradually increasing speed of our boat, although the falling of +the wind ought to have lessened it. + +This increase of speed could not be due to the current for we were +going more quickly than it. + +This state of things lasted until morning, without our being able to +account for what was happening, when at about ten o'clock the mist +began to disperse in the low zones. The coast on the west +reappeared--a rocky coast, without a mountainous background; the +_Paracuta_ was following its line. + +And then, no more than a quarter of a mile away, we beheld a huge +mound, reared above the plain to a height of three hundred feet, +with a circumference of from two to three hundred feet. In its +strange form this great mound resembled an enormous sphinx; the body +upright, the paws stretched out, crouching in the attitude of the +winged monster which Grecian Mythology has placed upon the way to +Thebes. + +Was this a living animal, a gigantic monster, a mastodon a thousand +times the size of those enormous elephants of the polar seas whose +remains are still found in the ice? In our frame of mind we might +have believed that it was such a creature, and believed also that +the mastodon was about to hurl itself on our little craft and crush +it to atoms. + +After a few moments of unreasoning and unreasonable fright, we +recognized that the strange object was only a great mound, +singularly shaped, and that the mist had just rolled off its head, +leaving it to stand out and confront us. + +Ah! that sphinx! I remembered, at sight of it, that on the night +when the iceberg was overturned and the _Halbrane_ was carried away, I +had dreamed of a fabulous animal of this kind, seated at the pole of +the world, and from whom Edgar Poe could only wrest its secrets. + +But our attention was to be attracted, our surprise, even our alarm, +was evoked soon by phenomena still more strange than the mysterious +earth form upon which the mist-curtain had been raised so suddenly. + +I have said that the speed of the _Paracuta_ was gradually increasing; +now it was excessive, that of the current remaining inferior to it. +Now, of a sudden, the grapnel that had belonged to the _Halbrane_, and +was in the bow of the boat, flew out of its socket as though drawn +by an irresistible power, and the rope that held it was strained to +breaking point. It seemed to tow us, as it grazed the surface of the +water towards the shore. + +"What's the matter?" cried William Guy. "Cut away, boatswain, cut +away!" shouted West, "or we shall be dragged against the rocks." + +Hurliguerly hurried to the bow of the _Paracuta_ to cut away the rope. +Of a sudden the knife he held was snatched out of his hand, the rope +broke, and the grapnel, like a projectile, shot off in the direction +of the sphinx. + +At the same moment, all the articles on board the boat that were +made of iron or steel--cooking utensils, arms, Endicott's stove, +our knives, which were torn from our pockets--took flight after a +similar fashion in the same direction, while the boat, quickening +its course, brought up against the beach. + +What was happening? In order to explain these inexplicable things, +were we not obliged to acknowledge that we had come into the region +of those wonders which I attributed to the hallucinations of Arthur +Pym? + +No! These were physical facts which we had just witnessed, and not +imaginary phenomena! + +We had, however, no time for reflection, and immediately upon our +landing, our attention was turned in another direction by the sight +of a boat lying wrecked upon the sand. + +"The _Halbrane's_ boat!" cried Hurliguerly. It was indeed the +boat which Hearne had stolen, and it was simply smashed to pieces; +in a word, only the formless wreckage of a craft which has been +flung against rocks by the sea, remained. + +We observed immediately that all the ironwork of the boat had +disappeared, down to the hinges of the rudder. Not one trace of the +metal existed. + +What could be the meaning of this? + +A loud call from West brought us to a little strip of beach on the +right of our stranded boat. + +Three corpses lay upon the stony soil, that of Hearne, that of +Martin Holt, and that of one of the Falklands men. + +Of the thirteen who had gone with the sealing-master, there remained +only these three, who had evidently been dead some days. + +What had become of the ten missing men? Had their bodies been +carried out to sea? + +We searched all along the coast, into the creeks, and between the +outlying rocks, but in vain. Nothing was to be found, no traces of a +camp, not even the vestiges of a landing. + +"Their boat," said William Guy, "must have been struck by a +drifting iceberg. The rest of Hearne's companions have been +drowned, and only these three bodies have come ashore, lifeless." + +"But," asked the boatswain, "how is the state the boat is in +to be explained?" + +"And especially," added West, "the disappearance of all the +iron?" + +"Indeed," said I, "it looks as though every bit had been +violently torn off." + +Leaving the _Paracuta_ in the charge of two men, we again took our way +to the interior, in order to extend our search over a wider expanse. + +As we were approaching the huge mound the mist cleared away, and the +form stood out with greater distinctness. It was, as I have said, +almost that of a sphinx, a dusky-hued sphinx, as though the matter +which composed it had been oxidized by the inclemency of the polar +climate. + +And then a possibility flashed into my mind, an hypothesis which +explained these astonishing phenomena. + +"Ah!" I exclaimed, "a loadstone! that is it! A magnet with +prodigious power of attraction!" + +I was understood, and in an instant the final catastrophe, to which +Hearne and his companions were victims, was explained with terrible +clearness. + +The Antarctic Sphinx was simply a colossal magnet. Under the +influence of that magnet the iron bands of the _Halbrane's_ boat had +been torn out and projected as though by the action of a catapult. +This was the occult force that had irresistibly attracted everything +made of iron on the _Paracuta_. And the boat itself would have shared +the fate of the _Halbrane's_ boat had a single bit of that metal +been employed in its construction. Was it, then, the proximity of +the magnetic pole that produced such effects? + +[Illustration: An antarctic mystery.] + +At first we entertained this idea, but on reflection we rejected it. + +At the place where the magnetic meridians cross, the only phenomenon +produced is the vertical position of the magnetic needle in two +similar points of the terrestrial globe. This phenomenon, already +proved by observations made on the spot, must be identical in the +Antarctic regions. + +Thus, then, there did exist a magnet of prodigious intensity in the +zone of attraction which we had entered. Under our eyes one of those +surprising effects which had hitherto been classed among fables was +actually produced. + +The following appeared to me to be the true explanation. + +The Trade-winds bring a constant succession of clouds or mists in +which immense quantities of electricity not completely exhausted by +storms, are stored. Hence there exists a formidable accumulation of +electric fluid at the poles, and it flows towards the land in a +permanent stream. + +From this cause come the northern and southern auroras, whose +luminous splendours shine above the horizon, especially during the +long polar night, and are visible even in the temperate zones when +they attain their maximum of culmination. + +These continuous currents at the poles, which bewilder our +compasses, must possess an extraordinary influence. And it would +suffice that a block of iron should be subjected to their action for +it to be changed into a magnet of power proportioned to the +intensity of the current, to the number of turns of the electric +helix, and to the square root of the diameter of the block of +magnetized iron. Thus, then, the bulk of the sphinx which upreared +its mystic form upon this outer edge of the southern lands might be +calculated by thousands of cubic yards. + +Now, in order that the current should circulate around it and make a +magnet of it by induction, what was required? Nothing but a metallic +lode, whose innumerable windings through the bowels of the soil +should be connected subterraneously at the base of the block. + +It seemed to me also that the place of this block ought to be in the +magnetic axis, as a sort of gigantic calamite, from whence the +imponderable fluid whose currents made an inexhaustible accumulator +set up at the confines of the world should issue. Our compass could +not have enabled us to determine whether the marvel before our eyes +really was at the magnetic pole of the southern regions. All I can +say is, that its needle staggered about, helpless and useless. And +in fact the exact location of the Antarctic Sphinx mattered little +in respect of the constitution of that artificial loadstone, and the +manner in which the clouds and metallic lode supplied its attractive +power. + +In this very plausible fashion I was led to explain the phenomenon +by instinct. It could not be doubted that we were in the vicinity of +a magnet which produced these terrible but strictly natural effects +by its attraction. + +I communicated my idea to my companions, and they regarded this +explanation as conclusive, in presence of the physical facts of +which we were the actual witnesses. + +"We shall incur no risk by going to the foot of the mound, I +suppose," said Captain Len Guy. + +"None," I replied. + +"There--yes--there!" + +I could not describe the impression those three words made upon us. +Edgar Poe would have said that they were three cries from the depths +of the under world. + +It was Dirk Peters who had spoken, and his body was stretched out in +the direction of the sphinx, as though it had been turned to iron +and was attracted by the magnet. + +Then he sped swiftly towards the sphinx-like mound, and his +companions followed him over rough ground strewn with volcanic +remains of all sorts. + +The monster grew larger as we neared it, but lost none of its +mythological shape. Alone on that vast plain it produced a sense of +awe. And--but this could only have been a delusion--we seemed to +be drawn towards it by the force of its magnetic attraction. + +On arriving at the base of the mound, we found there the various +articles on which the magnet had exerted its power; arms, utensils, +the grapnel of the _Paracuta_, all adhering to the sides of the +monster. There also were the iron relics of the _Halbrane's_ boat, +all her utensils, arms, and fittings, even to the nails and the iron +portions of the rudder. + +There was no possibility of regaining possession of any of these +things. Even had they not adhered to the loadstone rock at too great +a height to be reached, they adhered to it too closely to be +detached. Hurliguerly was infuriated by the impossibility of +recovering his knife, which he recognized at fifty feet above his +head, and cried as he shook his clenched fist at the imperturbable +monster,-- + +"Thief of a sphinx!" + +Of course the things which had belonged to the _Halbrane's_ boat +and the _Paracuta's_ were the only articles that adorned the mighty +sides of the lonely mystic form. Never had any ship reached such a +latitude of the Antarctic Sea. Hearne and his accomplices, Captain +Len Guy and his companions, were the first who had trodden this +point of the southern continent. And any vessel that might have +approached this colossal magnet must have incurred certain +destruction. Our schooner must have perished, even as its boat had +been dashed into a shapeless wreck. + +West now reminded us that it was imprudent to prolong our stay upon +this Land of the Sphinx--a name to be retained. Time pressed, and a +few days' delay would have entailed our wintering at the foot of +the ice-barrier. + +The order to return to the beach had just been given, when the voice +of the half-breed was again heard, as he cried out: + +"There! There! There!" + +We followed the sounds to the back of the monster's right paw, and +we found Dirk Peters on his knees, with his hands stretched out +before an almost naked corpse, which had been preserved intact by +the cold of these regions, and was as rigid as iron. The head was +bent, a white beard hung down to the waist, the nails of the feet +and hands were like claws. + +How had this corpse been fixed to the side of the mound at six feet +above the ground? + +Across the body, held in place by its cross-belt, we saw the twisted +barrel of a musket, half-eaten by rust. + +"Pym--my poor Pym!" groaned Dirk Peters. + +He tried to rise, that he might approach and kiss the ossified +corpse. But his knees bent under him, a strangled sob seemed to rend +his throat, with a terrible spasm his faithful heart broke, and the +half-breed fell back--dead! + +The story was easy to read. After their separation, the boat had +carried Arthur Pym through these Antarctic regions! Like us, once he +had passed beyond the south pole, he came into the zone of the +monster! And there, while his boat was swept along on the northern +current, he was seized by the magnetic fluid before he could get rid +of the gun which was slung over his shoulder, and hurled against the +fatal loadstone Sphinx of the Ice-realm. + +Now the faithful half-breed rests under the clay of the Land of the +Antarctic Mystery, by the side of his "poor Pym," that hero +whose strange adventures found a chronicler no less strange in the +great American poet! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. +A LITTLE REMNANT. + + +That same day, in the afternoon, the _Paracuta_ departed from the +coast of the Land of the Sphinx, which had lain to the west of us +since the 21st of February. + +By the death of Dirk Peters the number of the passengers was reduced +to twelve. These were all who remained of the double crew of the two +schooners, the first comprising thirty-eight men, the second, +thirty-two; in all seventy souls. But let it not be forgotten that +the voyage of the _Halbrane_ had been undertaken in fulfillment of a +duty to humanity, and four of the survivors of the _Jane_ owed their +rescue to it. + +And now there remains but little to tell, and that little must be +related as succinctly as possible. It is unnecessary to dwell upon our +return voyage, which was favoured by the constancy of the currents +and the wind to their northern course. The last part of the voyage was +indeed accomplished amid great fatigue, suffering, and danger, but it +ended in our safe deliverance from all these. + +[Illustration: The _Paracuta_.] + +Firstly, a few days after our departure from the Land of the Sphinx, +the sun set behind the western horizon to reappear no more for the +whole winter. It was then in the midst of the semi-darkness of the +austral night that the _Paracuta_ pursued her monotonous course. True, +the southern polar lights were frequently visible; but they were not +the sun, that single orb of day which had illumined our horizons +during the months of the Antarctic summer, and their capricious +splendour could not replace his unchanging light. That long darkness +of the poles sheds a moral and physical influence on mortals which no +one can elude, a gloomy and overwhelming impression almost impossible +to resist. + +Of all the _Paracuta's_ passengers, the boatswain and Endicott only +preserved their habitual good-humour; those two were equally +insensible to the weariness and the peril of our voyage. I also +except West, who was ever ready to face every eventuality, like a +man who is always on the defensive. As for the two brothers Guy, +their happiness in being restored to each other made them frequently +oblivious of the anxieties and risks of the future. + +Of Hurliguerly I cannot speak too highly. He proved himself a +thoroughly good fellow, and it raised our drooping spirits to hear +him repeat in his jolly voice,-- + +"We shall get to port all right, my friends, be sure of that. And, +if you only reckon things up, you will see that we have had more +good luck than bad. Oh, yes, I know, there was the loss of our +schooner! Poor _Halbrane_, carried up into the air like a balloon, +then flung into the deep like an avalanche! But, on the other hand, +there was the iceberg which brought us to the coast, and the Tsalal +boat which brought us and Captain William Guy and his three +companions together. And don't forget the current and the breeze +that have pushed us on up to now, and will keep pushing us on, I'm +sure of that. With so many trumps in our hand we cannot possibly +lose the game. The only thing to be regretted is that we shall have +to get ashore again in Australia or New Zealand, instead of casting +anchor at the Kerguelens, near the quay of Christmas Harbour, in +front of the Green Cormorant." + +For a week we pursued our course without deviation to east or west, +and it was not until the 21st of March that the _Paracuta_ lost +sight of Halbrane Land, being carried towards the north by the +current, while the coast-line of the continent, for such we are +convinced it is, trended in a round curve to the north-east. + +Although the waters of this portion of sea were still open, they +carried a flotilla of icebergs or ice-fields. Hence arose serious +difficulties and also dangers to navigation in the midst of the +gloomy mists, when we had to manoeuvre between these moving masses, +either to find passage or to prevent our little craft from being +crushed like grain between the millstones. + +Besides, Captain Len Guy could no longer ascertain his position +either in latitude or longitude. The sun being absent, calculations +by the position of the stars was too complicated, it was impossible +to take altitudes, and the _Paracuta_ abandoned herself to the action +of the current, which invariably bore us northward, as the compass +indicated. By keeping the reckoning of its medium speed, however, we +concluded that on the 27th of March our boat was between the +sixty-ninth and the sixty-eighth parallels, that is to say, some +seventy miles only from the Antarctic Circle. + +Ah! if no obstacle to the course of our perilous navigation had +existed, if passage between this inner sea of the southern zone and +the waters of the Pacific Ocean had been certain, the _Paracuta_ might +have reached the extreme limit of the austral seas in a few days. +But a few hundred miles more to sail, and the iceberg-barrier would +confront us with its immovable rampart, and unless a passage could +be found, we should be obliged to go round it either by the east or +by the west. + +Once cleared indeed-- + +Ah! once cleared, we should be in a frail craft upon the terrible +Pacific Ocean, at the period of the year when its tempests rage with +redoubled fury and strong ships dread the might of its waves. + +We were determined not to think of this. Heaven would come to our +aid. We should be picked up by some ship. This the boatswain +asserted confidently, and we were bound to believe the boatswain. + + * * * * * + +For six entire days, until the 2nd of April, the _Paracuta_ held her +course among the ice-barrier, whose crest was profiled at an +altitude of between seven and eight hundred feet above the level of +the sea. The extremities were not visible either on the east or the +west, and if our boat did not find an open passage, we could not +clear it. By a most fortunate chance a passage was found on the +above-mentioned date, and attempted, amid a thousand risks. Yes, we +required all the zeal, skill, and courage of our men and their +chiefs to accomplish such a task. + +At last we were in the South Pacific waters, but our boat had +suffered severely in getting through, and it had sprung more than +one leak. We were kept busy in baling out the water, which also came +in from above. + +The breeze was gentle, the sea more calm than we could have hoped, +and the real danger did not lie in the risks of navigation. No, it +arose from the fact that not a ship was visible in these waters, not +a whaler was to be seen on the fishing-grounds. At the beginning of +April these places are forsaken, and we arrived some weeks too late. + +We learned afterwards that had we arrived a little sooner, we should +have met the vessels of the American expedition. + +In fact, on the 1st of February, by 95° 50' longitude and 64° +17' latitude, Lieutenant Wilkes was still exploring these seas in +one of his ships, the _Vincennes_, after having discovered a long +extent of coast stretching from east to west. On the approach of the +bad season, he returned to Hobart Town, in Tasmania. The same year, +the expedition of the French captain Dumont d'Urville, which +started in 1838, discovered Adélie Land in 66° 30' latitude and +38° 21' east longitude, and Clarie Coast in 64° 30' and 129° +54'. Their campaign having ended with these important discoveries, +the _Astrolabe_ and the _Zélée_ left the Antarctic Ocean and returned +to Hobart Town. + +None of these ships, then, were in those waters; so that, when our +nutshell _Paracuta_ was "alone on a lone, lone sea" beyond the +ice-barrier, we were bound to believe that it was no longer possible +we could be saved. + +We were fifteen hundred miles away from the nearest land, and winter +was a month old! + +Hurliguerly himself was obliged to acknowledge the last fortunate +chance upon which he had counted had failed us. + +On the 6th of April we were at the end of our resources; the sea +began to threaten, the boat seemed likely to be swallowed up in the +angry waves. + +"A ship!" cried the boatswain, and on the instant we made out a +vessel about four miles to the north-east, beneath the mist which +had suddenly risen. + +Signals were made, signals were perceived; the ship lowered her +largest boat and sent it to our rescue. + +This ship was the _Tasman_, an American three-master, from +Charlestown, where we were received with eager welcome and +cordiality. The captain treated my companions as though they had +been his own countrymen. + +The _Tasman_ had come from the Falkland Islands where the captain had +learned that seven months previously the American schooner _Halbrane_ +had gone to the southern seas in search of the shipwrecked people of +the _Jane_. But as the season advanced, the schooner not having +reappeared, she was given up for lost in the Antarctic regions. + +Fifteen days after our rescue the _Tasman_ disembarked the survivors +of the crew of the two schooners at Melbourne, and it was there that +our men were paid the sums they had so hardly earned, and so well +deserved. + +We then learned from maps that the _Paracuta_ had debouched into the +Pacific from the land called Clarie by Dumont d'Urville, and the +land called Fabricia, which was discovered in 1838 by Bellenny. + +Thus terminated this adventurous and extraordinary expedition, which +cost, alas, too many victims. Our final word is that although the +chances and the necessities of our voyage carried us farther towards +the south pole than those who preceded us, although we actually did +pass beyond the axial point of the terrestrial globe, discoveries of +great value still remain to be made in those waters! + +Arthur Pym, the hero whom Edgar Poe has made so famous, has shown +the way. It is for others to follow him, and to wrest the last +Antarctic Mystery from the Sphinx of the Ice-realm. + + + + +THE END. + + + +End of the Voyage Extraordinaire + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10339 *** |