An accident now befell the Dolphin which effectually decided2 the fate of the ship and her crew, at least for that winter. This was her getting aground near the ravine of the giant flagstaff before mentioned, and being finally beset by ice, from which all efforts on the part of the men to extricate3 her proved abortive4, and in which she was ultimately frozen in, hard and fast.
The first sight the crew obtained of the red snow filled them with unbounded amazement5, and a few of the more superstitious6 amongst them with awe7 approaching to fear. But soon their attention was attracted from this by the wonderful column.
"Och, then! may I niver!" exclaimed O'Riley, the moment he caught sight of it, "if there ben't the north pole at long last—sure enough!"
The laugh that greeted this remark was almost immediately checked, partly from the feelings of solemnity inspired by the magnificent view which opened up to them, and partly from a suspicion on the part of the more ignorant among the men that there might be some truth in O'Riley's statement after all.
But their attention and energies were speedily called to the dangerous position of the ship, which unexpectedly took the ground in a bay where the water proved to be unusually shallow, and before they could warp8 her off the ice closed round her in compact, immovable masses. At first Captain Guy was not seriously alarmed by this untoward9 event, although he felt a little chagrin10 in consequence of the detention11, for the summer was rapidly advancing, and it behoved him to return to Baffin's Bay and prosecute12 the whale-fishing as energetically as possible; but when day after day passed, and the ice round the ship still remained immovable, he became alarmed, and sought by every means in his power to extricate himself.
His position was rendered all the more aggravating14 by the fact that, a week after he was beset, the main body of the ice in the strait opened up and drifted to the southward, leaving a comparatively clear sea through which he could have pushed his way without much difficulty in any direction; but the solid masses in which they lay embedded16 were fast to the ground for about fifty yards beyond the vessel17, seaward, and until these should be floated away there was no chance of escape.
"Get up some powder and canisters, Mr. Bolton," he exclaimed, one morning after breakfast, "I'll try what can be done by blasting the ice. The highest spring tide will occur to-morrow, and if the ship don't move then we shall—"
He did not finish the sentence, but turned on his heel and walked forward, where he found Buzzby and some of the men preparing the ice-saws.
"Ay, ay," muttered the mate, as he went below to give the necessary directions, "you don't need to conclude your speech, captain. If we don't get out to-morrow, we're locked up for one winter, at least, if not more."
"Ay, and ye'll no get oot to-morrow," remarked Saunders, with a shake of his head as he looked up from the log-book in which he was making an entry. "We're hard and fast, so we'll just have to make the best o't."
Saunders was right, as the efforts of the next day proved. The ice lay around the vessel in solid masses, as we have said, and with each of the last three tides these masses had been slightly moved. Saws and ice chisels18, therefore, had been in constant operation, and the men worked with the utmost energy, night and day, taking it by turns, and having double allowance of hot coffee served out to them. We may mention here that the Dolphin carried no spirits, except what was needed for medicinal purposes, and for fuel to several small cooking lamps that had been recently invented. It had now been proved by many voyagers of experience that in cold countries, as well as hot, men work harder, and endure the extremity19 of hardship better, without strong drink than with it, and the Dolphin's crew were engaged on the distinct understanding that coffee, and tea, and chocolate were to be substituted for rum, and that spirits were never to be given to any one on board, except in cases of extreme necessity.
But, to return—although the men worked as only those can who toil20 for liberation from long imprisonment21, no impression worth mentioning could be made on the ice. At length the attempt to rend13 it by means of gunpowder22 was made.
A jar containing about thirty pounds of powder was sunk in a hole in an immense block of ice which lay close against the stern of the ship. Mivins, being light of foot, was set to fire the train. He did so, and ran—ran so fast that he missed his footing in leaping over a chasm23, and had well-nigh fallen into the water below. There was a whiz and a loud report, and the enormous mass of ice heaved upwards24 in the centre, and fell back in huge fragments. So far the result was satisfactory, and the men were immediately set to sink several charges in various directions around the vessel, to be in readiness for the highest tide, which was soon expected. Warps25 and hawsers26 were also got out and fixed27 to the seaward masses, ready to heave on them at a moment's notice; the ship was lightened as much as possible by lifting her stores upon the ice; and the whole crew—captain, mates, and all—worked and heaved like horses, until the perspiration28 streamed from their faces, while Mizzle kept supplying them with a constant deluge29 of hot coffee. Fred and the young surgeon, too, worked like the rest, with their coats off, handkerchiefs bound round their heads, and shirt-sleeves tucked up to their shoulders.
At last the tide rose—inch by inch, and slowly, as if it grudged30 to give them even a chance of escape.
Mivins grew impatient and unbelieving under it. "I don't think it'll rise another hinch," he remarked to O'Riley, who stood near him.
"Niver fear, boy. The capting knows a sight better than you do, and he says it'll rise a fut yit."
"Does he?" asked Grim, who was also beginning to despond.
"Ov coorse he does. Sure he towld me in a confidintial way, just before he wint to turn in last night—if it wasn't yisturday forenoon, for it's meself as niver knows an hour o' the day since the sun became dissipated, and tuck to sitting up all night in this fashion."
"Shut up yer tatie-trap and open yer weather-eye," muttered Buzzby, who had charge of the gang; "there'll be time enough to speak after we're off."
Gradually, as the tide rose, the ice and the ship moved, and it became evident that the latter was almost afloat, though the former seemed to be only partly raised from the ground. The men were at their several posts ready for instant action, and gazing in anxious expectation at the captain, who stood, watch in hand, ready to give the word.
"Now, then, fire!" he said in a low voice.
In a moment the ice round the ship was rent, and upheaved, as if some leviathan of the deep were rising from beneath it, and the vessel swung slowly round. A loud cheer burst from the men.
"Now, lads, heave with a will!" roared the captain.
Round went the capstan, the windlass clanked, and the ship forged slowly ahead, as the warps and hawsers became rigid31. At that moment a heavy block of ice, which had been overbalanced by the motion of the vessel, fell with a crash on the rudder, splitting off a large portion of it, and drawing the iron bolts that held it completely out of the stern-post.
"Never mind; heave away—for your lives!" cried the captain. "Jump on board, all of you!"
The few men who had until now remained on the ice scrambled32 up the side. There was a sheet of ice right ahead which the ship could not clear, but which she was pushing out to sea in advance of her. Suddenly this took the ground and remained motionless.
"Out there with ice-chisels! Sink a hole like lightning! Prepare a canister, Mr. Bolton—quick!" shouted the captain in desperation, as he sprang over the side and assisted to cut into the unwieldy obstruction33. The charge was soon fixed and fired, but it only split the block in two and left it motionless as before. A few minutes after the ship again grounded; the ice settled round her; the spring tide was lost, and they were not delivered.
Those who know the bitterness of repeated disappointment and of hope deferred34, may judge of the feelings with which the crew of the Dolphin now regarded their position. Little, indeed, was said, but the grave looks of most of the men, and the absence of the usual laugh, and jest, and disposition35 to skylark, which, on almost all other occasions characterized them, showed too plainly how heavily the prospect36 of a winter in the Arctic Regions weighed upon their spirits. They continued their exertions37 to free the ship, however, for several days after the high tide, and did not finally give in until all reasonable hope of moving her was utterly38 annihilated39. Before this, however, a reaction began to take place; the prospects40 of the coming winter were discussed; and some of the more sanguine41 looked even beyond the winter, and began to consider how they would contrive42 to get the ship out of her position into deep water again.
Fred Ellice, too, thought of his father, and this abrupt43 check to the search, and his spirits sank again as his hopes decayed. But poor Fred, like the others, at last discovered that it was of no use to repine, and that it was best to face his sorrows and difficulties "like a man!"
Alas44! poor human nature; how difficult do we find it to face sorrows and difficulties cheerfully, even when we do conscientiously45 try! Well would it be for all of us could we submit to such, not only because they are inevitable46, but because they are the will of God—of him who has asserted in his own Word that "he afflicteth not the children of men willingly."
Among so many men there were all shades of character, and the fact that they were doomed47 to a year's imprisonment in the Frozen Regions was received in very different ways. Some looked grave and thought of it seriously; others laughed and treated it lightly; a few grumbled48 and spoke49 profanely50; but most of them became quickly reconciled, and in a week or two nearly all forgot the past and the future in the duties, and cares, and amusements of the present. Captain Guy and his officers, however, and a few of the more sedate51 men, among whom were Buzzby and Peter Grim, looked forward with much anxiety, knowing full well the dangers and trials that lay before them.
It is true the ship was provisioned for more than a year, but most of the provisions were salt, and Tom Singleton could have told them, had they required to be told, that without fresh provisions they stood a poor chance of escaping that dire15 disease scurvy52, before which have fallen so many gallant53 tars54 whom nothing in the shape of dangers or difficulties could subdue55. There were, indeed, myriads56 of wild-fowl flying about the ship, on which the men feasted and grew fat every day; and the muskets57 of Meetuck and those who accompanied him seldom failed to supply the ship with an abundance of the flesh of seals, walruses58, and Polar bears, portions of all of which creatures were considered very good indeed by the men, and particularly by the dogs, which grew so fat that they began to acquire a very disreputable waddle59 in their gait as they walked the deck for exercise, which they seldom did, by the way, being passionately60 fond of sleep! But birds, and perchance beasts, might be expected to take themselves off when the winter arrived, and leave the crew without fresh food.
Then, although the Dolphin was supplied with every necessary for a whaling-expedition, and with many luxuries besides, she was ill provided with the supplies that men deem absolutely indispensable for a winter in the Arctic Regions, where the cold is so bitterly intense that, after a prolonged sojourn61, men's minds become almost entirely62 engrossed63 by two clamant demands of nature—food and heat. They had only a small quantity of coal on board, and nothing except a few extra spars that could be used as a substitute, while the bleak64 shores afforded neither shrub65 nor tree of any kind. Meanwhile, they had a sufficiency of everything they required for at least two or three months to come, and for the rest, as Grim said, they had "stout66 hearts and strong arms."
As soon as it became apparent that they were to winter in the bay, which the captain named the Bay of Mercy, all further attempt to extricate the ship was abandoned, and every preparation for spending the winter was begun and carried out vigorously. It was now that Captain Guy's qualities as a leader began to be displayed. He knew, from long experience and observation, that in order to keep up the morale67 of any body of men it was absolutely necessary to maintain the strictest discipline. Indeed, this rule is so universal in its application, that many men find it advantageous68 to impose strict rules on themselves in the regulation of their time and affairs, in order to keep their own spirits under command. One of the captain's first resolves therefore was, to call the men together and address them on this subject; and he seized the occasion of the first Sabbath morning they spent in the Bay of Mercy, when the crew were assembled for prayers on the quarter-deck, to speak to them.
Hitherto we have not mentioned the Sabbath day in this story, because, while at sea, and while struggling with the ice, there was little to mark it from other days, except the cessation of unnecessary labour, and the reading of prayers to those who chose to attend; but as necessary labour preponderated69 at all times, and the reading of prayers occupied scarce half-an-hour, there was little perceptible difference between the Sabbath and any other day. We would not be understood to speak lightly of this difference. Little though it was in point of time and appearance, it was immeasurably great in fact, as it involved the great principle that the day of rest ought to be observed, and that the Creator should be honoured in a special manner on that day.
On the Sabbath in question—and it was an exceedingly bright, peaceful one—Captain Guy, having read part of the Church of England service as usual, stood up, and in an earnest, firm tone said:—
"My lads, I consider it my duty to say a few plain words to you in reference to our present situation and prospects. I feel that the responsibility of having brought you here rests very much upon myself, and I deem it my solemn duty, in more than the ordinary sense, to do all I can to get you out of the ice again. You know as well as I do that this is impossible at the present time, and that we are compelled to spend a winter here. Some of you know what that means, but the most of you know it only by hearsay70, and that's much the same as knowing nothing about it at all. Before the winter is done your energies and endurance will probably be taxed to the uttermost. I think it right to be candid71 with you. The life before you will not be child's play, but I assure you that it may be mingled72 with much that will be pleasant and hearty73 if you choose to set about it in the right way. Well, then, to be short about it. There is no chance whatever of our getting through the winter in this ship comfortably, or even safely, unless the strictest discipline is maintained aboard. I know, for I've been in similar circumstances before, that when cold and hunger, and, it may be, sickness press upon us—should it please the Almighty74 to send these on us in great severity—you will feel duty to be irksome, and you'll think it useless, and perhaps be tempted75 to mutiny. Now, I ask you solemnly, while your minds are clear from all prejudices, each individually to sign a written code of laws, and a written promise that you will obey the same, and help me to enforce them even with the punishment of death, if need be. Now, lads, will you agree to that?"
"Agreed! agreed!" cried the men at once, and in a tone of prompt decision that convinced their leader he had their entire confidence—a matter of the highest importance in the critical circumstances in which they were placed.
"Well, then, I'll read the rules. They are few, but sufficiently76 comprehensive:—
"1st. Prayers shall be read every morning before breakfast, unless circumstances render it impossible to do so."
The captain laid down the paper, and looked earnestly at the men.
"My lads, I have never felt so strongly as I now do the absolute need we have of the blessing77 and guidance of the Almighty, and I am persuaded that it is our duty as well as our interest to begin, not only the Sabbath, but every day with prayer.
"2nd. The ordinary duties of the ship shall be carried on, the watches regularly set and relieved, regular hours observed, and the details of duty attended to in the usual way, as when in harbour.
"3rd. The officers shall take watch and watch about as heretofore, except when required to do otherwise. The log-books, and meteorological observations, etc., shall be carried on as usual.
"4th. The captain shall have supreme78 and absolute command as when at sea; but he, on his part, promises that, should any peculiar79 circumstance arise in which the safety of the crew or ship shall be implicated80, he will, if the men are so disposed, call a council of the whole crew, in which case the decision of the majority shall become law, but the minority, in that event, shall have it in their option to separate from the majority and carry along with them their share of the general provisions.
"5th. Disobedience to orders shall be punishable according to the decision of a council to be appointed specially81 for the purpose of framing a criminal code, hereafter to be submitted for the approval of the crew."
The rules above laid down were signed by every man in the ship. Several of them could not write, but these affixed82 a cross (x) at the foot of the page, against which their names were written by the captain in presence of witnesses, which answered the same purpose. And from that time, until events occurred which rendered all such rules unnecessary, the work of the ship went on pleasantly and well.
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1
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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warp
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| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
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untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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aggravating
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| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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chisels
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| n.凿子，錾子( chisel的名词复数 )；口凿 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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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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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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warps
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| n.弯曲( warp的名词复数 )；歪斜；经线；经纱v.弄弯，变歪( warp的第三人称单数 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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hawsers
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| n.（供系船或下锚用的）缆索，锚链( hawser的名词复数 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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49
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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50
profanely
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| adv.渎神地，凡俗地 | |
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51
sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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52
scurvy
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| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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tars
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| 焦油，沥青，柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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myriads
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| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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walruses
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| n.海象( walrus的名词复数 ) | |
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59
waddle
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| vi.摇摆地走；n.摇摆的走路(样子) | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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morale
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| n.道德准则，士气，斗志 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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preponderated
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| v.超过，胜过( preponderate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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72
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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73
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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76
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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