Three hours after this sad dénouement of the adventures of Captain Hatteras, the whole party were back once more in the grotto1.
Clawbonny was asked his opinion as to what was best to be done.
“Well, friends,” he said, “we cannot stay longer in this island; the sea is open, and we have enough provisions. We ought to start at once, and get back without the least delay to Fort Providence2, where we must winter.”
“That is my opinion, too,” said Altamont. “The wind is favourable3, so to-morrow we will get to sea.”
The day passed in profound dejection. The insanity4 of the captain was a bad omen5 and when they began to talk over the return voyage, their hearts failed them for fear. They missed the intrepid6 spirit of their leader.
However, like brave men, they prepared to battle anew with the elements and with themselves, if ever they felt inclined to give way.
Next morning they made all ready to sail, and brought the tent and all its belongings7 on board.
But before leaving these rocks, never to return, the Doctor carrying out the intentions of Hatteras, had a cairn erected8 on the very spot where the poor fellow had jumped ashore9. It was made of great blocks placed one on the top of the other, so as to be a landmark10 perfectly11 visible while the eruptions12 of the volcano left it undisturbed. On one of the side stones, Bell chiselled13 the simple inscription14 —
JOHN HATTERAS.
The duplicate of the document attesting15 the discovery of the North Pole was enclosed in a tinned iron cylinder16, and deposited in the cairn, to remain as a silent witness among those desert rocks.
This done, the four men and the captain, a poor body without a soul, set out on the return voyage, accompanied by the faithful Duk, who had become sad and downcast. A new sail was manufactured out of the tent, and about ten o’clock, the little sloop17 sailed out before the wind.
She made a quick passage, finding abundance of open water. It was certainly easier to get away from the Pole than to get to it.
But Hatteras knew nothing that was passing around him. He lay full length in the boat, perfectly silent, with lifeless eye and folded arms, and Duk lying at his feet. Clawbonny frequently addressed him, but could elicit18 no reply.
On the 15th they sighted Altamont Harbour, but as the sea was open all along the coast, they determined19 to go round to Victoria Bay by water, instead of crossing New America in the sledge20.
The voyage was easy and rapid. In a week they accomplished21 what had taken a fortnight in the sledge, and on the 23rd they cast anchor in Victoria Bay.
As soon as the sloop was made fast, they all hastened to Fort Providence. But what a scene of devastation22 met their eyes! Doctor’s House, stores, powder-magazine, fortifications, all had melted away, and the provisions had been ransacked23 by devouring24 animals.
The navigators had almost come to the end of their supplies, and had been reckoning on replenishing their stores at Fort Providence. The impossibility of wintering there now was evident, and they decided25 to get to Baffin’s Bay by the shortest route.
“We have no alternative,” said Clawbonny; “Baffin’s Bay is not more than six hundred miles distant. We can sail as long as there is water enough under our sloop, and get to Jones’ Sound, and then on to the Danish settlements.”
“Yes,” said Altamont; “let us collect what food remains26, and be off at once.”
After a thorough search, a few cases of pemmican were found scattered27 here and there, and two barrels of preserved meat, altogether enough for six weeks, and a good supply of powder. It was soon collected and brought on board, and the remainder of the day was employed in caulking28 the sloop and putting her in good trim.
Next morning they put out once more to sea. The voyage presented no great difficulties, the drift-ice being easily avoided; but still the Doctor thought it advisable, in case of possible delays, to limit the rations29 to one-half. This was no great hardship, as there was not much work for anyone to do, and all were in perfect health.
Besides, they found a little shooting, and brought down ducks, and geese, and guillemots, or sea turtledoves. Water they were able to supply themselves with in abundance, from the fresh-water icebergs30 they constantly fell in with as they kept near the coast, not daring to venture out to the open sea in so frail32 a barque.
At that time of the year, the thermometer was already constantly below freezing point. The frequent rains changed to snow, and the weather became gloomy. Each day the sun dipped lower below the horizon, and on the 30th, for a few minutes, he was out of sight altogether.
However, the little sloop sailed steadily33 on without stopping an instant. They knew what fatigues34 and obstacles a land journey involved, if they should be forced to adopt it, and no time was to be lost, for soon the open water would harden to firm ground; already the young ice had begun to form. In these high latitudes37 there is neither spring nor autumn; winter follows close on the heels of summer.
On the 31st the first stars glimmered38 overhead, and from that time forwards there was continual fog, which considerably39 impeded40 navigation.
The Doctor became very uneasy at these multiplied indications of approaching winter. He knew the difficulties Sir John Ross had to contend with after he left his ship to try and reach Baffin’s Bay, and how, after all, he was compelled to return and pass a fourth winter on board. It was bad enough with shelter and food and fuel, but if any such calamity41 befell the survivors42 of the Forward, if they were obliged to stop or return, they were lost.
The Doctor said nothing of his anxieties to his companions, but only urged them to get as far east as possible.
At last, after thirty days’ tolerably quick sailing, and after battling for forty-eight hours against the increasing drift ice, and risking the frail sloop a hundred times, the navigators saw themselves blocked in on all sides. Further progress was impossible, for the sea was frozen in every direction, and the thermometer was only 15° above zero.
Altamont made a reckoning with scrupulous43 precision, and found they were in 77°15’ latitude36, and 85° 2’ longitude44.
“This is our exact position then,” said the Doctor. “We are in South Lincoln, just at Cape45 Eden, and are entering Jones’ Sound. With a little more good luck, we should have found open water right to Baffin’s Bay. But we must not grumble46. If my poor Hatteras had found as navigable a sea at first, he would have soon reached the Pole. His men would not have deserted47 him, and his brain would not have given way under the pressure of terrible trial.”
“I suppose, then,” said Altamont, “our only course is to leave the sloop, and get by sledge to the east coast of Lincoln.”
“Yes; but I think we should go through Jones’ Sound, and get to South Devon instead of crossing Lincoln.”
“Why?”
“Because the nearer we get to Lancaster Sound, the more chance we have of meeting whalers.”
“You are right; but I question whether the ice is firm enough to make it practicable.”
“We’ll try,” replied Clawbonny.
The little vessel48 was unloaded, and the sledge put together again. All the parts were in good condition, so the next day the dogs were harnessed, and they started off along the coast to reach the ice-field; but Altamont’s opinion proved right. They could not get through Jones’ Sound, and were obliged to follow the coast to Lincoln.
At last, on the 24th, they set foot on North Devon.
“Now,” said Clawbonny, “we have only to cross this, and get to Cape Warender at the entrance to Lancaster Sound.”
But the weather became frightful49, and very cold. The snow-storms and tempests returned with winter violence, and the travellers felt too weak to contend with them. Their stock of provisions was almost exhausted50, and rations had to be reduced now to a third, that the dogs might have food enough to keep them in working condition.
The nature of the ground added greatly to the fatigue35. North Devon is extremely wild and rugged51, and the path across the Trauter mountains is through difficult gorges52. The whole party — men, and dogs, and sledge alike — were frequently forced to stop, for they could not struggle on against the fury of the elements. More than once despair crept over the brave little band, hardy53 as they were, and used to Polar sufferings. Though scarcely aware of it themselves, they were completely worn out, physically54 and mentally.
It was not till the 30th of August that they emerged from these wild mountains into a plain, which seemed to have been upturned and convulsed by volcanic55 action at some distant period.
Here it was absolutely necessary to take a few days’ rest, for the travellers could not drag one foot after the other, and two of the dogs had died from exhaustion56. None of the party felt equal to put up the tent, so they took shelter behind an iceberg31.
Provisions were now so reduced, that, notwithstanding their scanty57 rations, there was only enough left for one week. Starvation stared the poor fellows in the face.
Altamont, who had displayed great unselfishness and devotion to the others, roused his sinking energies, and determined to go out and find food for his comrades.
He took his gun, called Duk, and went off almost unnoticed by the rest.
He had been absent about an hour, and only once during that time had they heard the report of his gun; and now he was coming back empty- handed, but running as if terrified.
“What is the matter?” asked the Doctor.
“Down there, under the snow!” said Altamont, speaking as if scared, and pointing in a particular direction.
“What?”
“A whole party of men!”
“Alive?”
“Dead — frozen — and even —”
He did not finish the sentence, but a look of unspeakable horror came over his face.
The Doctor and the others were so roused by this incident, that they managed to get up and drag themselves after Altamont towards the place he indicated.
They soon arrived, at a narrow part at the bottom of a ravine, and what a spectacle met their gaze! Dead bodies, already stiff, lay half- buried in a winding-sheet of snow. A leg visible here, an arm there, and yonder shrunken hands and rigid58 faces, stamped with the expression of rage and despair.
The Doctor stooped down to look at them more closely, but instantly started back pale and agitated59, while Duk barked ominously60.
“Horrible, horrible!” he said.
“What is it?” asked Johnson.
“Don’t you recognize them?”
“What do you mean?”
“Look and see!”
It was evident this ravine had been but recently the scene of a fearful straggle with cold, and despair, and starvation, for by certain horrible remains it was manifest that the poor wretches61 had been feeding on human flesh, perhaps while still warm and palpitating; and among them the Doctor recognized Shandon, Pen, and the ill-fated crew of the Forward! Their strength had failed; provisions had come to an end; their boat had been broken, perhaps by an avalanche62 or engulphed in some abyss, and they could not take advantage of the open sea; or perhaps they had lost their way in wandering over these unknown continents. Moreover, men who set out under the excitement of a revolt were not likely to remain long united. The leader of a rebellion has but a doubtful power, and no doubt Shandon’s authority had been soon cast off.
Be that as it might, it was evident the crew had come through agonies of suffering and despair before this last terrible catastrophe63, but the secret of their miseries64 is buried with them beneath the polar snows.
“Come away! come away!” said the Doctor, dragging his companions from the scene. Horror gave them momentary65 strength, and they resumed their march without stopping a minute longer.
1 grotto | |
n.洞穴 | |
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2 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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3 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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4 insanity | |
n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
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5 omen | |
n.征兆,预兆;vt.预示 | |
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6 intrepid | |
adj.无畏的,刚毅的 | |
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7 belongings | |
n.私人物品,私人财物 | |
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8 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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9 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
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10 landmark | |
n.陆标,划时代的事,地界标 | |
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11 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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12 eruptions | |
n.喷发,爆发( eruption的名词复数 ) | |
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13 chiselled | |
adj.凿过的,凿光的; (文章等)精心雕琢的v.凿,雕,镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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14 inscription | |
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 | |
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15 attesting | |
v.证明( attest的现在分词 );证实;声称…属实;使宣誓 | |
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16 cylinder | |
n.圆筒,柱(面),汽缸 | |
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17 sloop | |
n.单桅帆船 | |
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18 elicit | |
v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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19 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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20 sledge | |
n.雪橇,大锤;v.用雪橇搬运,坐雪橇往 | |
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21 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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22 devastation | |
n.毁坏;荒废;极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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23 ransacked | |
v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 );抢劫,掠夺 | |
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24 devouring | |
吞没( devour的现在分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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25 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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26 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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27 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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28 caulking | |
n.堵缝;敛缝;捻缝;压紧v.堵(船的)缝( caulk的现在分词 );泥…的缝;填塞;使不漏水 | |
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29 rations | |
定量( ration的名词复数 ); 配给量; 正常量; 合理的量 | |
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30 icebergs | |
n.冰山,流冰( iceberg的名词复数 ) | |
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31 iceberg | |
n.冰山,流冰,冷冰冰的人 | |
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32 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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33 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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34 fatigues | |
n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 );杂役;厌倦;(士兵穿的)工作服 | |
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35 fatigue | |
n.疲劳,劳累 | |
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36 latitude | |
n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区 | |
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37 latitudes | |
纬度 | |
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38 glimmered | |
v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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40 impeded | |
阻碍,妨碍,阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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42 survivors | |
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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43 scrupulous | |
adj.审慎的,小心翼翼的,完全的,纯粹的 | |
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44 longitude | |
n.经线,经度 | |
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45 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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46 grumble | |
vi.抱怨;咕哝;n.抱怨,牢骚;咕哝,隆隆声 | |
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47 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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48 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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49 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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50 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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51 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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52 gorges | |
n.山峡,峡谷( gorge的名词复数 );咽喉v.(用食物把自己)塞饱,填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 );作呕 | |
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53 hardy | |
adj.勇敢的,果断的,吃苦的;耐寒的 | |
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54 physically | |
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律 | |
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55 volcanic | |
adj.火山的;象火山的;由火山引起的 | |
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56 exhaustion | |
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述 | |
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57 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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58 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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59 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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60 ominously | |
adv.恶兆地,不吉利地;预示地 | |
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61 wretches | |
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋 | |
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62 avalanche | |
n.雪崩,大量涌来 | |
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63 catastrophe | |
n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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64 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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65 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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