It did not take long to furnish the new abode1. A camp-bed was set up in the hall, and the carpenter Mac-Nab constructed a most substantial table, around which were ranged fixed2 benches. A few movable seats and two enormous presses completed the furniture of this apartment. The inner room, which was also ready, was divided by solid partitions into six dormitories, the two end ones alone being lighted by windows looking to the front and back. The only furniture was a bed and a table. Mrs Paulina Barnett and Madge were installed in one which looked immediately out upon the lake. Hobson offered the other with the window in it to Thomas Black, and the astronomer4 took immediate3 possession of it. The Lieutenant5’s own room was a dark cell adjoining the hall, with no window but a bull’s eye pierced through the partition. Mrs Joliffe, Mrs Mac-Nab, and Mrs Rae, with their husbands, occupied the other dormitories. These good people agreed so well together that it would have been a pity to separate them. Moreover, an addition was expected shortly to the little colony; and Mac-Nab had already gone so far as to secure the services of Mrs Barnett as god-mother, an honour which gave the good woman much satisfaction. The sledges6 had been entirely7 unloaded, and the bedding carried into the different rooms. All utensils8, stores, and provisions which were not required for immediate use were stowed away in a garret, to which a ladder gave access. The winter clothing-such as boots, overcoats, furs, and skins-were also taken there, and protected from the damp in large chests. As soon as these arrangements were completed, the Lieutenant began to provide for the heating of the house.
Knowing that the most energetic measures were necessary to combat the severity of the Arctic winter, and that during the weeks of intensest cold there would be no possibility of leaving the house to forage9 for supplies, he ordered a quantity of fuel to be brought from the wooded hills in the neighbourhood, and took care to obtain a plentiful10 store of oil from the seals which abounded11 on the shore.
In obedience12 to his orders, and under his directions, the house was provided with a condensing apparatus13 which would receive the internal moisture, and was so constructed that the ice which would form in it could easily be removed.
This question of heating was a very serious one to the Lieutenant.
“I am a native of the Polar regions, madam,” he often said to Mrs Barnett; “I have some experience in these matters, and I have read over and over again books written by those who have wintered in these latitudes14. It is impossible to take too many precautions in preparing to pass a winter in the Arctic regions, and nothing must be left to chance where a single neglect may prove fatal to the enterprise.”
“Very true, Mr Hobson,” replied Mrs Barnett; “and you have evidently made up your mind to conquer the cold; but there is the food to be thought of too.”
“Yes, indeed; I have been thinking of that, and mean to make all possible use of the produce of the country so as to economise our stores. As soon as we can, we will make some foraging15 expeditions. We need not think about the furs at present, for there will be plenty of time during the winter to stock the Company’s dep?ts. Besides, the furred animals have not got their winter clothing on yet, and the skins would lose fifty per cent. of their value if taken now. Let us content ourselves for the present with provisioning Fort Hope. Reindeer16, elk17, - and any wapitis that may have ventured so far north are the only game worth our notice just now; it will be no small undertaking18 to provide food for twenty people and sixty dogs.”
The Lieutenant loved order, and determined19 to do everything in the most methodical manner, feeling confident that if his companions would help him to the utmost of their power, nothing need be wanting to the success of the expedition.
The weather at this season was almost always fine, and might be expected to continue so for five weeks longer, when the snow would begin to fall. It was very important that the carpenters-should make all possible use of the interval20; and as soon as the principal house was finished, Hobson set them to work to build an enormous kennel21 or shed in which to keep the teams of dogs. This doghouse was built at the very foot of the promontory22, against the hill, and about forty yards to the right of the house. Barracks for the accommodation of the men were to be built opposite this kennel on the left, while the store and powder magazines were to occupy the front of the enclosure.
Hobson determined with almost excessive prudence23 to have the Factory enclosed before the winter set in. A strong fence of pointed24 stakes, planted firmly in the ground, was set up as a protection against the inroads of wild animals or the hostilities25 of the natives. The Lieutenant had not forgotten an outrage26 which had been committed along the coast at no great distance from Fort Hope, and he well knew how essential it was to be safe from a coup27 de main. The factory was therefore entirely encircled, and at each extremity28 of the lagoon29 Mac-Nab undertook to erect30 a wooden sentry-box commanding the coast-line, from which a watch could be kept without any danger. The men worked indefatigably31, and it seemed likely that everything would be finished before the cold season set in.
In the meantime hunting parties were organised. The capture of seals being put off for a more convenient season, the sportsmen prepared to supply the fort with game, which might be dried and preserved for consumption during the bad season.
Accordingly Marbre and Sabine, sometimes accompanied by the Lieutenant and Sergeant32 Long, whose experience was invaluable33, scoured34 the country daily for miles round; and it was no uncommon35 sight to see Mrs Paulina Barnett join them and step briskly along shouldering her gun bravely, and never allowing herself to be outstripped36 by her companions.
Throughout the month of August these expeditions were continued with great success, and the store of provisions increased rapidly. Marbre and Sabine were skilled in all the artifices37 which sportsmen employ in stalking their prey-particularly the reindeer, which are exceedingly wary38. How patiently they would face the wind lest the creature’s keen sense of smell should warn it of their approach! and how cunningly they lured39 it on to its destruction by displaying the magnificent antlers of some former victim above the birch-bushes!
They found a useful alley40 (sic) in a certain little traitorous41 bird to which the Indians have given the name of “monitor.” It is a kind of daylight owl42, about the size of a pigeon, and has earned its name by its habit of calling the attention of hunters to their quarry43, by uttering a sharp note like the cry of a child.
When about fifty reindeer, or, to give them their Indian name, “caribous,” had been brought down by the guns, the flesh was cut into long strips for food, the skins being kept to be tanned and used for shoe-leather.
Besides the caribous, there were also plenty of Polar hares, which formed an agreeable addition to the larder44. They were much less timorous45 than the European species, and allowed themselves to be caught in great numbers. They belong to the rodent46 family, and have long ears, brown eyes, and a soft fur resembling swan’s down. They weigh from ten to fifteen pounds each, and their flesh is excellent. Hundreds of them were cared for winter use, and the remainder converted into excellent pies by the skilful47 hands of Mrs Joliffe.
While making provision for future wants, the daily supplies were not neglected. In addition to the Polar bares, which underwent every variety of culinary treatment from Mrs Joliffe, and won for her compliments innumerable from hunters and workmen alike, many waterfowl figured in the bill of fare. Besides the ducks which abounded on the shores of the lagoon, large flocks of grouse48 congregated49 round the clumps50 of stunted51 willows52. They belong, as their zoological name implies, to the partridge family, and might be aptly described as white partridges with long black-spotted feathers in the tail. The Indians call them willow53-fowl; but to a European sportsman they are neither more nor less than blackcock (Tetrao tetrix). When roasted slightly before a quick clear fire they proved delicious.
Then there were the supplies furnished by lake and stream. Sergeant Long was a first-rate angler, and nothing could surpass the skill and patience with which he whipped the water and cast his s line. The faithful Madge, another worthy54 disciple55 of Isaak Walton was perhaps his only equal. Day after day the two sallied forth56 together rod in hand, to spend the day in mute companionship by the river-side, whence they were sure to return in triumph laden57 with some splendid specimens58 of the salmon60 tribe.
But to return to our sportsmen; they soon found that their hunting excursions were not to be free from peril61. Hobson perceived with some alarm that bears were very numerous in the neighbourhood and that scarcely a day passed without one or more of them being sighted. Sometimes these unwelcome visitors belonged to the family of brown bears, so common throughout the whole “Cursed Land; “but now and then a solitary62 specimen59 of the formidable Polar bear warned the hunters what dangers they might have to encounter so soon as the first frost should drive great numbers of these fearful animals to the neighbourhood of Cape63 Bathurst. Every book of Arctic explorations is full of accounts of the frequent perils64 to which travellers and whalers are exposed from the ferocity of these animals.
Now and then, too, a distant pack of wolves was seen, which receded65 like a wave at the approach of the hunters, or the sound of their bark was heard as they followed the trail of a reindeer or wapiti. These creatures were large grey wolves, about three feet high, with long tails, whose fur becomes white in the winter. They abounded in this part of the country, where food was plentiful; and frequented wooded spots, where they lived in holes like foxes. During the temperate66 season, when they could get as much as they wanted to eat, they were scarcely dangerous, and fled with the characteristic cowardice67 of their race at the first sign of pursuit; but when impelled68 by hunger, their numbers rendered them very formidable; and from the fact of their lairs69 being close at hand, they never left the country even in the depth of winter.
One day the sportsmen returned to Fort Hope, bringing with them an unpleasant-looking animal, which neither Mrs Paulina Barnett nor the astronomer, Thomas Black, had ever before seen. It was a carnivorous creature of the plantigrada family, and greatly resembled the American glutton70, being strongly built, with short legs, and, like all animals of the feline71 tribe, a very supple72 back; its eyes were small and horny, and it was armed with curved claws and formidable jaws73.
“What is this horrid74 creature?” inquired Mrs Paulina Barnett of Sabine, who replied in his usual sententious manner —
“A Scotchman would call it a ‘quick-hatch,’ an Indian an ‘okelcoo-haw-gew,’ and a Canadian a ‘carcajou.”’
“And what do you call it?”
“A wolverene, ma’am,” returned Sabine, much delighted with the elegant way in which he had rounded his sentence.
The wolverene, as this strange quadruped is called by zoologists75, lives in hollow trees or rocky caves, whence it issues at night and creates great havoc76 amongst beavers77, musk-rats, and other rodents78, sometimes fighting with a fox or a wolf for its spoils. Its chief characteristics are great cunning, immense muscular power, and an acute sense of smell. It is found in very high latitudes; and the short fur with which it is clothed becomes almost black in the winter months, and forms a large item in the Company’s exports.
During their excursions the settlers paid as much attention to the Flora79 of the country as to its Fauna80; but in those regions vegetation, has necessarily a hard struggle for existence, as it must brave every season of the year, whereas the animals are able to migrate to a warmer climate during the winter.
The hills on the eastern side, of the lake were well covered with pine and fir trees; and Jaspar also noticed the “tacamahac,” a species of poplar which grows to a great height and shoots forth yellowish leaves which turn green in the autumn. These trees and larches81 were, however, few and sickly looking, as if they found the oblique82 rays of the sun insufficient83 to make them thrive. The black fir, or Norway spruce fir, throve better, especially when situated84 in ravines well sheltered from the north wind. The young shoots of this tree are very valuable, yielding a favourite beverage85 known in North America as “ spruce-beer.” A good crop of these branchlets was gathered in and stored in the cellar of Fort Hope. There were also the dwarf86 birch, a shrub87 about two feet high, native to very cold climates, and whole thickets88 of cedars89, which are so valuable for fuel.
Of vegetables which could be easily grown and used for food, this barren land yielded but few; and Mrs Joliffe, who took a great interest in “ economic “ botany, only met with .two plants which were available in cooking.
One of these, a bulb, very difficult to classify, because its leaves fall off just at the flowering season, turned out to be a wild leek90, and yielded a good crop of onions, each about the size of an egg.
The other plant was that known throughout North America as “Labrador tea;” it grew abundantly on the shores of the lagoon between the clumps of willow and arbutus, and formed the principal food of the Polar hares. Steeped in boiling water, and flavoured with a few drops of brandy or gin, it formed an excellent beverage, and served to economise the supply of China tea which the party had brought from Fort Reliance.
Knowing the scarcity91 of vegetables, Jaspar Hobson had plenty of seeds with him, chiefly sorrel and scurvy-grass (Cochlearia), the antiscorbutic properties of which are invaluable in these latitudes. In choosing the site of the settlement, such care bad been taken to find a spot sheltered from the keen blasts, which shrivel vegetation like a fire, that there was every chance of these seeds yielding a good crop in the ensuing season.
The dispensary of the new fort contained other antiscorbutics, in the shape of casks of lemon and lime juice, both of which are absolutely indispensable to an Arctic expedition. Still the greatest economy was necessary with regard to the stores, as a long period of bad weather might cut off the communication between Fort Hope and the southern stations.
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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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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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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astronomer
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| n.天文学家 | |
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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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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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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forage
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| n.(牛马的)饲料，粮草；v.搜寻，翻寻 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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foraging
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| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
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reindeer
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| n.驯鹿 | |
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elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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indefatigably
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| adv.不厌倦地，不屈不挠地 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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outstripped
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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rodent
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| n.啮齿动物；adj.啮齿目的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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grouse
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| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
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congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lairs
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| n.（野兽的）巢穴，窝( lair的名词复数 )；（人的）藏身处 | |
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glutton
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| n.贪食者，好食者 | |
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feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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zoologists
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| 动物学家( zoologist的名词复数 ) | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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77
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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78
rodents
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| n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 ) | |
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79
flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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80
fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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81
larches
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| n.落叶松（木材）( larch的名词复数 ) | |
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82
oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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83
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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84
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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85
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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86
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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87
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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88
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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89
cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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90
leek
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| n.韭葱 | |
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91
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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