It was about ten o’clock the same night when Mrs Barnett and Lieutenant1 Hobson knocked at the postern gate of the fort. Great was the joy on seeing them, for they had been given up for lost; but this joy was turned to mourning at the news of the death of Norman. The brave fellow had been beloved by all, and his loss was sincerely mourned. The intrepid2 and devoted3 Esquimaux received phlegmatically4 the earnest expressions of gratitude5 of those they had saved, and could riot be persuaded to come to the fort. What they had done seemed to them only natural, and these were not the first persons they had rescued; so they quietly returned to their wild life of adventure on the lake, where they hunted the otters6 and water-birds day and night.
For the next three nights the party rested. Hobson always intended to set out on June 2d; and on that day, all having recovered from their fatigues8 and the storm having abated9, the order was given to start.
Sergeant10 Felton had done all in his power to make his guests comfortable and to aid their enterprise; some of the jaded11 dogs were replaced by fresh animals, and now the Lieutenant found all his sledges13 drawn14 up in good order at the door of the enceinte, and awaiting the travellers.
The adieux were soon over. Each one thanked Sergeant Felton for his hospitality, and Mrs Paulina Barnett was most profuse15 in her expressions of gratitude. A hearty16 shake of the hand between the Sergeant and his brother-in-law, Long, completed the leave-taking,
Each pair got into the sledge12 assigned to them; but this time Mrs Barnett and the Lieutenant shared one vehicle, Madge and Sergeant Long following them.
According to the advice of the Indian chief, Hobson determined17 to get to the coast by the shortest route, and to take a north-easterly direction. After consulting, his map, which merely gave a rough outline of the configuration18 of the country, it seemed best to him to descend19 the valley of the Coppermine, a large river which flows into Coronation Gulf20.
The distance between Fort Confidence and the mouth of this river is only a degree and a half-that is to say, about eighty-five or ninety miles. The deep hollow formed by the gulf is bounded on the north by Cape21 Krusenstein, and from it the coast juts22 out towards the north-west, ending in Cape Bathurst, which is above the seventieth parallel.
The Lieutenant, therefore, now changed the route he had hitherto followed, directing his course to the east, so as to reach the river in a few hours.
In the afternoon of the next day, June 3d, the river was gained. It was now free from ice, and its clear and rapid waters flowed through a vast valley, intersected by numerous but easily fordable streams. The sledges advanced pretty rapidly, and as they went along, Hobson gave his companion some account of the country through which they were passing. A sincere friendship founded on mutual23 esteem24, had sprung up between these two. Mrs Paulina Barnett was an earnest student with a special gift for discovery, and was therefore always glad to converse25 with travellers and explorers. Hobson, who knew his beloved North America by heart, was able to answer all her inquiries26 fully27.
“About ninety years ago,” he said, “the territory through which the Coppermine flows was unknown, and we are indebted for its discovery to the agents of the Hudson’s Bay Company. But as always happens in scientific matters, in seeking one thing, another was found. Columbus was trying to find Asia, and discovered America.”
“And what were the agents of the Hudson’s Bay Company seeking? The famous North-West Passage?”
“No, madam,” replied the young Lieutenant. “A century ago the Company had no interest in the opening of a new route, which would have been more valuable to its rivals than to it. It is even said that in 1741 a certain Christopher Middleton, sent to explore these latitudes28, was publicly charged with receiving a bribe30 of ￡500 from the Company to say that there was not, and could not be, a sea passage between the oceans.”
“That was not much to the credit of the celebrated31 Company,” said Mrs Barnett.
“I do not defend it in the matter,” replied Hobson; “and its interference was severely32 censured33 by Parliament in 1746, when a reward of ￡20,000 was offered by the Government for the discovery of the passage in question. In that year two intrepid explorers, William Moor34 and Francis Smith, penetrated35 as far as Repulse37 Bay in the hope of discovering the much-longed-for passage. But they were unsuccessful, and returned to England after an absence of a year and a half.”
“But did not other captains follow in their steps, resolved to conquer where they had failed?” inquired Mrs Barnett.
“No, madam; and in spite of the large reward offered by Parliament, no attempt was made to resume explorations in English America until thirty years afterwards, when some agents of the Company took up the unfinished task of Captains Moor and Smith.”
“The Company had then relinquished38 the narrow-minded egotistical position it had taken up?”
“No, madam, not yet. Samuel Hearne, the agent, only went to reconnoitre the position of a copper-mine which native miners had reported. On November 6, 1769, this agent left Fort Prince of Wales, on the river Churchill, near the western shores of Hudson’s Bay. He pressed boldly on to the north-west; but the excessive cold and the exhaustion39 of his provisions compelled him to return without accomplishing anything. Fortunately he was not easily discouraged, and on February 23d of the next year he set out again, this time taking some Indians with him. Great hardships were endured in this second journey. The fish and game on which Hearne had relied often failed him; and he had once nothing to eat for seven days but wild fruit, bits of old leather, and burnt bones. He was again compelled to return to the fort a disappointed man. But he did not even yet despair, and started a third time, December 7th, 1770; and after a struggle of nineteen months, he discovered the Coppermine river, July 13th, 1772, the course of which he followed to its mouth. According to his own account, he saw the open sea, and in any case he was the first to penetrate36 to the northern coast of America.”
“But the North-West Passage-that is to say, the direct communication by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans — was not then discovered?”
“Oh no, madam,” replied the Lieutenant; “and what countless41 adventurous42 sailors have since gone to seek it! Phipps in 1773, James Cook and Clerke in 1776 to 1779, Kotzebue in 1815 to 1818, Ross, Parry, Franklin, and others have attempted this difficult task; but it was reserved to M’Clure in our own day to pass from one ocean to the other across the Polar Sea.”
“Well, Lieutenant, that was a geographical43 discovery of which we English may well be proud. But do tell me if the Hudson’s Bay Company did not adopt more generous views, and send out some other explorer after the return of Hearne.”
“It did, madam; and it was thanks to it that Captain Franklin was able to accomplish his voyage of 1819 to 1822 between the river discovered by Hearne and Cape Turnagain. This expedition endured great fatigue7 and hardships; provisions often completely failed, and two Canadians were assassinated44 and eaten by their comrades. But in spite of all his sufferings, Captain Franklin explored no less than five thousand five hundred and fifty miles of the hitherto unknown coast of North America!”
“He was indeed a man of energy,” added Mrs Barnett; “and he gave proof of his great qualities in starting on a fresh Polar expedition after all he had gone through.”
“Yes,” replied the Lieutenant; “and he met a terrible death in the land his own intrepidity45 had discovered. It has now been proved, however, that all his companions did not perish with him. Many are doubtless still wandering about on the vast ice-fields. I cannot think of their awful condition without a shudder46. One day,” be added earnestly, and with strange emotion —” one day I will search the unknown lands where the dreadful catastrophe47 took place, and — “
“And,” exclaimed Mrs Barnett, pressing his hand, “I will accompany you. Yes, this idea has occurred to me more than once, as it has to you; and my heart beats high when I think that fellow countrymen of my own-Englishmen-are awaiting succour.”
“Which will come too late for most of them, madam,” said the Lieutenant; “but rest assured some will even yet be saved.”
“God grant it, Lieutenant!” replied Mrs Barnett; “and it appears to me that the agents of the Company, living as they do close to the coast, are better fitted than any one else to fulfil this duty of humanity.”
“I agree with you, madam; they are, as they have often proved, inured48 to the rigours of the Arctic climate. Was it not they who aided Captain Back in his voyage in 1834, when he discovered King William’s Land, where Franklin met his fate? Was it not two of us, Dease and Simpson, who were sent by the Governor of Hudson’s Bay to explore the shores of the Polar Sea in 1838, and whose courageous49 efforts first discovered Victoria Land? It is my opinion that the future reserves for the Hudson’s Bay Company the final conquest of the Arctic regions. Gradually its factories are advancing further and further north, following the retreat of the fur-yielding animals; and one day a fort will be erected50 on the Pole itself, that mathematical point where meet all the meridians51 of the globe.”
During this and the succeeding journeys Jaspar Hobson related his own adventures since he entered the service of the Company his struggles with the agents of rival associations, and his efforts to explore the unknown districts of the north or west; and Mrs Barnett, on her side, told of her travels in the tropics. She spoke52 of all she had done, and of all she hoped still to accomplish; so that the long hours, lightened by pleasant conversation, passed rapidly away.
Meanwhile the dogs advanced at full gallop53 towards the north. The Coppermine valley widened sensibly as they neared the Arctic Ocean. The hills on either side sank lower and lower, and only scattered54 clumps55 of resinous56 trees broke the monotony of the landscape. A few blocks of ice, drifted down by the river, still resisted the action of the sun; but each day their number decreased, and a canoe, or even a good-sized boat, might easily have descended57 the stream, the course of which was unimpeded by any natural barrier or aggregation58 of rocks. The bed of the Coppermine was both deep and wide; its waters were very clear, and being fed by the melted snow, flowed on at a considerable pace, never, however, forming dangerous rapids. Its course, at first very sinuous59, became gradually less and less winding60, and at last stretched along in a straight line for several miles. Its banks, composed of fine firm sand, and clothed in part with short dry herbage, were wide and level, so that the long train of sledges sped rapidly over them.
The expedition travelled day and night-if we can speak of the night, when the sun, describing an almost horizontal circle, scarcely disappeared at all. The true night only lasted two hours, and the dawn succeeded the twilight61 almost immediately. The weather was fine; the sky clear, although somewhat misty62 on the horizon; and everything combined to favour the travellers.
For two days they kept along the river-banks without meeting with any difficulties. They saw but few fur-bearing animals; but there were plenty of birds, which might have been counted by thousands. The absence of otters, sables63, beavers64, ermines, foxes, &c., did not trouble the Lieutenant much, for he supposed that they had been driven further north by over-zealous tracking; and indeed the marks of encampments, extinguished fires, &c., told of the more or less recent passage of native hunters. Hobson knew that he would have to penetrate a good deal further north, and that part only of his journey would be accomplished65 when he got to the mouth of the Coppermine river. He was therefore most eager to reach the limit of Hearne’s exploration, and pressed on as rapidly as possible.
Every one shared the Lieutenant’s impatience66, and resolutely67 resisted fatigue in order to reach the Arctic Ocean with the least possible delay. They were drawn onwards by an indefinable attraction; the glory of the unknown dazzled their sight. Probably real hardships would commence when they did arrive at the much-desired coast. But no matter, they longed to battle with difficulties, and to press straight onwards to their aim. The district they were now traversing could have no direct interest for them; the real exploration would only commence on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Each one, then, would gladly hail the arrival in the elevated western districts for which they were bound, cut across though they were by the seventieth parallel of north latitude29.
On the 5th June, four days after leaving Fort Confidence the river widened considerably68. The western banks, curving slightly, ran almost due north; whilst the eastern rounded off into the coastline, stretching away as far as the eye could reach.
Lieutenant Hobson paused, and waving his hand to his companions, pointed40 to the boundless69 ocean.
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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phlegmatically
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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otters
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| n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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sledges
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| n.雪橇，雪车( sledge的名词复数 )v.乘雪橇( sledge的第三人称单数 )；用雪橇运载 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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configuration
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| n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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juts
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| v.（使）突出( jut的第三人称单数 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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inured
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| adj.坚强的，习惯的 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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50
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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meridians
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| n.子午圈( meridian的名词复数 )；子午线；顶点；（权力，成就等的）全盛时期 | |
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52
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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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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resinous
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| adj.树脂的，树脂质的，树脂制的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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aggregation
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| n.聚合，组合；凝聚 | |
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sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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sables
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| n.紫貂( sable的名词复数 )；紫貂皮；阴暗的；暗夜 | |
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beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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