the way was rough, and not without its dangers, for more than once Peter, who led the file, sprang just in time to save himself, as the treacherous3 crust above some yawning chasm4 between two heavy "Pans" crumbled5 under his feet; and once he fell headlong, clutching at a friendly spur, just in time to escape tumbling among a lot of jagged and flinty shards6 of young "crushed ice."
The wind was light at times, coming in puffs7 and squalls; and although the day was bright, a mist here, snowy white, there crimson8 with sunbeams, again darkening into purplish blue, and elsewhere of a heavy and leaden obscurity, hung over the greater part of the sky, and made it a doubtful task to prognosticate, with any degree of certainty, the state of the weather for even an hour in advance.
As they proceeded, a strangely solemn, though faint and distant, sound broke the oppressive silence. The three halted and listened intently. Again, low as the[Pg 200] moan of the dying surges on a distant bar, the sound came thrilling over the icy sea to the southward, and each face flushed with a new hope of speedy release from their wild prison-house.
"Hark!" said Orloff, raising his hand. "I hear the sound of a church bell. We must be near the land."
"It must be from the tower of the Tignish Chapel, then," said La Salle, "for no other land save the North Cape lies in our course."
Again a blast came whistling among the defiles9, and again a calm succeeded. All listened in breathless silence, and again the wished-for sound which spoke10 of the proximity11 of human society and Christian12 worship, came pealing13 across the desolate14 wastes, deserted15 of everything having life, and impressing the fancy of the beholder16 as does the desolation of long-forgotten cities, or the shattered marbles of the unremembered dead.
"I know that place. That bell Tignish Chapel. Two year ago I camp on Tignish Lun. Make basket, catch trout17, shoot flover. Go hevery Sunday to mass,—that same place,—take squaw, papoose, boy, girl, all folks. Know that bell, sure. To-day Sunday, and folks going into chapel."
"He must be right," said La Salle, "but we are now near the berg, and from its top we shall see if we are indeed near the North Cape. Make haste, Peter;[Pg 201] perhaps we may get near enough to-day to make our way to the shore."
A broad, level floe18 was all that intervened between the party and the berg which they sought. Running across it; although with some little difficulty, for the ice was covered with slush concealed19 by a crust insufficient20 to bear the weight of a man, they soon reached the berg. It was evidently of Arctic origin, for it was much larger than any of the many "pinnacles22" in sight. It was composed of ice, which, wherever the snow had failed to lodge23, appeared hard, transparent24, and prismatic in the rays of the sun. Its sides were steep and precipitous, and at first the members of the party began to fear that they should be unable to mount the steep escarpment of eight or ten feet high, which formed its base, which was further defended by a moat of mingled25 sludge and rounded fragments, cemented by young ice.
Had the opposite bank been attainable26, any of the party would have readily leaped across, trusting to their speed to save themselves from immersion27 among the rolling fragments; but no one cared to risk the treacherous footing beneath that inaccessible28 wall.
"I'm afraid we shall have to go back to our own lookout29, and trust to a shift of the ice," said La Salle. "Can you think of any way of climbing that pinnacle21, Peter?"
"No way do that, unless cut a way into that hice,[Pg 202] and then no safe place to stan' on, sartain, this time," answered the Indian.
"Let me have that rope," said Regnar, quietly.
Taking the light Manilla painter, he proceeded to form a large loop, and grasping it near the running knot, laid half a dozen turns across his hand. Then swinging the coil around his head, he launched the rope at a group of jagged points, which projected just above the edge of the lowest part of the cliff. Again and again the noose30 came back unreeved, and again and again the patient boy, with rare strength and skill, flung the ample noose over the slippery spires31 of ice. At last, however, success rewarded his efforts, and a strong pull, with the united weight of all three, failed to start the closely-drawn32 bowline. Taking the axe33 and bearing the most of his weight on the cord, Regnar crossed the bending surface and shifting fragments, and finding a precarious34 footing on the berg, wound the rope around his left arm, and with the right cut steps into the brittle35 ice-wall.
In a few moments he ascended36 the cliff, and the others, leaving their guns behind them, found little difficulty in following him. Leaving the rope still fast, the three ascended the berg, which rose high above the surrounding ice. Their first look was to the southward. For a moment the distance and the ever-present snow deceived them; but the sun came from behind a cloud, and they saw, afar off, the red sandstone face of the snow-covered cliffs of the North Cape.[Pg 203]
"They are now about twelve miles distant, and, as I judge, there can be but little open water between us and the shore. Let us hasten back and get the boat ready, for if this wind only holds, and no snow or rain comes on, we shall soon be able to reach the shore."
At that moment something fell with a splash into a small, partially37 open pool, on the farther side of the berg, and all saw a huge form disappear under the surface. Each started, felt mechanically for his weapons, and in brief monosyllables of Esquimaux, Micmac, and English, ejaculated the name of the animal whose presence none had even suspected.
"Ussuk!" whispered Regnar.
"Nashquan," murmured Peter.
"A seal," said La Salle.
Orloff slid down the berg, caught the firmly fastened cord, swung himself over the ice-foot, skipped lightly over the yielding fragments, seized his gun, and returned in almost less time than it takes to describe his movements. The seal, a huge male, had come to the surface among the floating fragments at the farther side of the pool, some fifty yards away, and now lay with his round head, protruding38 eyes, and stiff bristles39, strikingly expressing anger, fear, and curiosity—the last predominating. Regnar threw his gun to his shoulder.
"What size shot have you?" said La Salle, laying his hand on his shoulder.[Pg 204]
"Two buckshot cartridge,—heavy enough for him. If he were old 'hood40' now! Look! I show you something."
The lad took deliberate aim, and then, with the full force of his capacious lungs, gave a sharp, shrill41 whistle, which almost deafened42 his companions, and was re-echoed from the icy walls on the farther side of the pool, in piercing reverberations.
Surprised and affrighted by the unusual sound, the huge ussuk rose half his length above the water, and looked around him. The icy cliffs echoed the crashing volley, as both barrels poured forth43 their deadly hail almost in unison44, and the huge animal settled down amid incarnadined waters and ice crimsoned45 with his life-blood, shot to death through the brain so skilfully46 that scarce a struggle or a tremor47 bore witness that the principle of life had departed.
Descending48 the berg, a small fragment of ice capable of bearing a man was found, and Regnar, taking the end of his line, stepped upon it, and with his gunstock paddled off to the dead seal, and affixing49 the line to one of its flippers, pulled himself ashore50, and joined the others in towing the game to the berg. Landing it on a little shelf, La Salle and Peter began to speculate as to how the huge carcass, which must have weighed five hundred pounds, could be hauled over the berg, and safely landed. Regnar laughed at the idea.
"We want not the meat—only the skin, blubber,[Pg 205] and liver. Why not skin here? Save much work for nothin'. Here, Peter, give me knife."
Peter drew the long blade from his belt, and Regnar making a single incision51 from chin to tail, the body seemed fairly to roll out of the thick, soft blubber coat which adhered to the skin. In less than two minutes Regnar had finished what La Salle had no doubt would take at least a good half hour. With equal deftness53 the liver was extracted, and a few pounds of meat taken from the flanks.
Fastening the whole to the line, it was drawn to the top of the berg, and thence down the slope to the rude stairs. As the weight was nearly half that of a man, Regnar merely placed the bight of the rope around the object on which it had caught. Its shape excited curiosity, and a few strokes of the axe cleared off its covering of ice.
"This ice from Greenland," said Regnar. "Here is the stone the Inuit uses for pots—what you call soapstone."
"Well, I hope we shall not need it," said La Salle, "for the North Cape is now only ten miles away, and it is not yet noon. I want the blubber for fuel, or I would not waste time with this skin even."
"We shall have all we want to get back to George. See how the clouds close in. Plenty snow right away now. Come, Peter, get across quick."
La Salle groaned54 in spirit, as, from the berg which he had reascended, he saw the distant red ledges55 shut[Pg 206] out from view, and marked the first scattering56 flakes57 fall silently through the now calm atmosphere. Looking down, he saw that Peter and Regnar had got safely across the chasm, and almost despairing of the fate of his party, he followed down the rude steps, and across the treacherous bridge.
Letting the line slacken a little, Regnar gave a deft52 whirl, which cast off the bight from the rock, and the party, dragging behind them their prize, retraced58 their path amid what soon became a blinding snow-squall. Luckily their track had been through deep snow, and therefore not easily covered up; for when they reached their own island of refuge, they could see scarce a rod in any direction.
Regnar dragged his prize to the little enclosure, and, pointing to the snow-flake, said,—
"Soon they grow larger, softer, then turn to rain. Then this skin and our boat must cover us, for the snow-water will spoil our house."
At that moment a flaw from the westward59 bore on its wings a repetition of the sounds they had heard in the morning, but nearer and more distinct than before. Heavily, measured, and mournfully, came the tones of the great bell, as the storm-vapors shut down closer, and the west wind blew fiercer across the icebound sea.
"They toll60 for the dead," said Regnar.
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1
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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shards
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| n.（玻璃、金属或其他硬物的）尖利的碎片( shard的名词复数 ) | |
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puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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defiles
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| v.玷污( defile的第三人称单数 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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10
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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11
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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13
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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floe
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| n.大片浮冰 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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23
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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24
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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25
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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attainable
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| a.可达到的，可获得的 | |
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immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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31
spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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32
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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36
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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38
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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39
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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40
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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41
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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42
deafened
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| 使聋( deafen的过去式和过去分词 )； 使隔音 | |
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43
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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44
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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45
crimsoned
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| 变为深红色（crimson的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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46
skilfully
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| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
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47
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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48
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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49
affixing
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| v.附加( affix的现在分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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50
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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51
incision
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| n．切口，切开 | |
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52
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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53
deftness
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54
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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55
ledges
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| n.（墙壁，悬崖等）突出的狭长部分( ledge的名词复数 )；（平窄的）壁架；横档；（尤指）窗台 | |
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56
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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57
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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58
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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59
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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60
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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