Works of Jules Verne/Adventures of Captain Hatteras/The English at the North Pole/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII
CAPTAIN HATTERAS DISCLOSES HIS PLANS
The unexpected appearance of this bold personage did not produce the same effect on all the crew. Some rallied round him, completely attracted by his daring or by the love of money. Others were willing to join in the adventure, while reserving to themselves the right of protest at some future time. Besides, it would be no easy matter to resist such a man. The 20th was on a Sunday, and was kept as a day of rest for all on board.
A council of officers was held by the captain in his cabin, comprising Shandon, Wall, Johnson, and the Doctor. "Gentlemen," said Hatteras, in the gentle yet commanding tone peculiar to him, "you are aware of my project to reach the North Pole. I desire to know your opinion about it. What do you think, Shandon?"
"My business, captain, is not to think, but obey," said Shandon, coldly.
Hatteras showed no surprise at such a retort, but replied equally coldly: "Richard Shandon, I request your opinion as to our chance of success."
"Well, captain," was the answer, "facts will speak for me. Every attempt of the kind has hitherto failed; I hope we may be more fortunate."
"We shall be," said the captain. "And you, gentlemen, what do you think of it?"
"For my part," returned the Doctor, "I think your plan is practicable, and as it is evident that some day or other the Pole will be reached by navigators, I don't see why it should not be us as well as others."
"And there are also reasons why it should be so," resumed Hatteras; "all our measures have been adopted with a view to that end, and we shall profit by the experience of our predecessors. By the way, Shandon, thank you for your painstaking care in the equipment of the ship. There are, to be sure, a few black sheep among the crew that I must take in hand; but, on the whole, I have nothing but praise to bestow."
Shandon bowed stiffly. He felt his false position acutely. Hatteras understood his silence, and did not press him further.
"As for you, gentlemen," he continued, addressing Wall and Johnson, "I could not have the co-operation of braver or more experienced officers."
"Anyhow, captain, I'm your man," replied Johnson; "and though I must say I think your enterprise a little hazardous, you may rely on me, come what may."
"And equally on me," said James Wall.
"And for you, Doctor, all I can say is, I know your worth."
"Well, that is more than I do," replied the little man, smiling
"But now, gentlemen," resumed Hatteras, "It is well that you should know on what indisputable facts I base my expectation of reaching the Pole. In 1817, the Neptune, of Aberdeen, went north from Spitzberg, as far as the 82nd degree. In 1826, the celebrated Parry, after his third voyage in the Artic Seas, went also north from Spitzberg a hundred and fifty miles. In 1852, Captain Inglefield sailed up Smith's Sound as far as the 78th degree. All these vessels were English, and commanded by Englishmen, our fellow-countrymen."
Hatteras paused here, and went on in a sort of constrained voice, as if the words could hardly find utterance. "I ought to add that, in 1854, the American, Dr. Kane, in command of the brig Advance, got still higher; and that Morton, his lieutenant, crossed the ice-fields and hoisted the flag of the Union beyond the 82nd degree. Having said this, I shall not revert again to the subject. What I wish to tell you is, that the captains of all these vessels agree in stating that, extending from these high latitudes, there is a polar basin entirely free from ice."
"Free from ice!" exclaimed Shandon; "that's impossible."
The captain's eyes flashed for an instant, but he replied calmly: "You will please to notice, Shandon, that I am giving you facts and names———"
"But, captain," interrupted Shandon again, "the facts are so contradictory!"
"Wrong, Shandon, wrong," said Dr Clawbonny; "science goes to support these facts, not to disprove them, as I should like to show you, if the captain will allow me."
"Say on, Doctor," said Hatteras.
"Well, Shandon, listen, then. It is clear, from geographical facts and from the study of the isothermal lines, that the coldest point of the globe is not at the Pole, but several degrees from it. Hence Brewster and Bergham, and others conclude that there are two points of greatest cold, one in Asia, in 79° 30' of north latitude and 120° of east longtitude; the other in America, in 78° of north latitude and 97 of west longitude. It is this latter which concerns us; and, you see, Shandon, it is situated about 12° below the Pole. Now, then, I ask you, why should not the sea at the Pole be as free from ice as it is in the summer in the 66th parallel, that is to say, to the south of Baffin's Bay?"
"Mere chimeras and suppositions! Sheer conjecture!" replied Shandon, obstinately.
"Well, Shandon, let us consider the case both ways. Either there is a clear, open sea, or there is not. If there is, the Forward will sail along without difficulty, if it is all frozen over we shall use our sledges, and so whichever it may turn out, there is nothing to hinder us gaining the Pole. You will allow it is not impracticable; when once the brig gets as far as the 83°, we have only six hundred miles farther to go."
"And what is that!" exclaimed the enthusiastic Doctor, "when we know that a Cossack, Alexis Markoff, traveled along the northern coast of the Russian Empire over the Frozen Sea, in sledges drawn by dogs, a distance of eight hundred miles, in twenty-four days?"
"You hear that, Shandon?" returned Hatteras; "and now tell me if Englishmen cannot do as much as the Cossacks?"
"I should think so!" exclaimed Johnson and the Doctor; but Shandon made no reply till Hatteras said: "Come, Shandon, tell me."
Then all he said was in a freezing tone.
"Captain, I can only repeat what I have already told you—I will obey."
"Well," continued Hatteras, "let us look now at our actual situation. We are caught among the ice, and it seems to me impossible to get into Smith's Sound this year. This is what we had better do, then."
He unfolded a map and spread it out on the table, and tracing the route with his finger, said:
"Please to follow me. Though Smith's Sound is closed against us, Lancaster Sound is not, on the west side of Baffin's Bay. My opinion is, that we should enter this and go up as far as Barrow's Straits, and from thence on to Beechey Isle. Sailing vessels have taken this course a, hundred times, and certainly with our screw it could not be more difficult, at any rate. Once at Beechey Isle, we will get as far north as possible up Wellington Channel, and come out just at the very point from which the open water was visible. This is only the 20th of May; under favorable circumstances we shall be there in a month, and make it our starting point for the Pole. What is your opinion, gentlemen?"
"It is clearly our only course," said Johnson.
"Well, we shall adopt it then, and start to-morrow. Let us make this Sunday a day of rest, and be sure that you attend, Shandon, to the regular reading of the Scriptures with the men. These religious observances have a most salutary effect on the human spirit, and a sailor especially needs to put his trust in God."
"I will see to it," replied Shandon, as he went away with Johnson and Wall.
"Doctor," said the captain, when they were left alone, "that man, Shandon, can't get over his mortification! He is eaten up with pride; I can no longer depend on him."
Next morning the boat was lowered, and Hatteras went round in it to examine all the icebergs in the basin. He noticed during his survey that its dimensions were constantly narrowing, owing to the slow, steady pressure of moving ice, and that consequently the brig would be crushed inevitably before long, unless an immediate breach was made The energy of the man was shown by the plan he took to effect this.
His first business was to have steps cut in one of the icebergs, and climb to the top of it. From this elevation he saw there would not be much difficulty in clearing a passage to the south-west. He ordered a mine to be dug almost to the heart of the mountain, and in the chamber of this he deposited 1000 lbs. of gunpowder. The blasting cylinders were only adapted for breaking ice-fields; they would have been useless against the towering masses by which the brig was encircled. A gutta-percha tube containing a wick was carried from the chamber to the outside, and the passage communicating was filled up with snow and blocks of ice, which the ensuing night, combined with the action of the east wind, would make as solid as granite
All this preparation was Monday's work, and next morning by seven o'clock the Forward was under steam, ready to seize the first opening to make her exit. Johnson was entrusted with the lighting of the taper, which was reckoned to burn for half an hour before coming in contact with the powder This was ample time to ensure his safe return to the vessel, and, in fact, he was back in ten minutes.
The crew were all on deck, and the weather was fine and tolerably clear, for the snow had ceased to fall. Hatteras stood on the poop with Shandon and the Doctor, counting the minutes by his chronometer.
At thirty-five minutes to eight a dull explosion was heard, far less astounding than might have been expected. The outline of the mountains suddenly changed as in an earth- quake, a thick white smoke rose towards the sky, and long crevasses striped the sides of the iceberg, the summit of which seemed hurled from a distance, and fell in shattered fragments round the Forward.
But the pass was not yet open Enormous blocks of ice remained suspended in the air, propped up by the adjacent mountains, and their fall would only block up the basin still further
Hatteras took in the situation at a glance, and calling to the gunner, desired him to triple load the cannon.
"What are we going to attack the mountain with cannon-balls?" asked the Doctor.
"Not exactly," said Hatteras, that would be useless. No ball, Wolsten, but only a triple charge of powder. Be quick!"
All was ready in a few minutes.
"What will he do without ball?" muttered Shandon.
"We'll see," said the Doctor.
But the brig was too far from the iceberg, and Hatteras ordered the engineer to put the screw in motion A few turns was sufficient, and the command was given—Fire! A considerable explosion followed, which caused such an atmospheric commotion that the blocks were suddenly precipitated into the sea.
"Put on all steam possible, Brunton!" shouted the captain; "and get right out, Johnson, into the pass?"
Johnson seized the helm, the Forward dashed through the foaming waves, and next minute was free It was a sharp run for her, and she had scarcely cleared the opening before the prison closed again behind her.
It was a moment of intense excitement, and there was but one heart on board that beat quietly. This was the captain's, and the crew, unable to restrain their feelings of admiration for him, burst out into cheers, and shouted, "Hurrah for John Hatteras!"
On Wednesday, the 23rd May, the Forward resumed her adventurous navigation, skillfully tacking so as to keep clear of packs and bergs, thanks to her steam, that obedient power that has been so often wanting in Arctic ships.
The temperature was rising. At 6 a. m. the thermometer stood at 26 deg., at 6 p. m. at 29, and at midnight 25. A light breeze was blowing from the south-east.
About three o'clock on Thursday morning the Forward came in sight of Possession Bay, on the coast of America, and soon afterwards caught a glimpse of Cape Burney. Several Esquimaux were making hard for the ship, but Hatteras had no time to waste waiting for them. The puffins, and ducks, and white gulls were very numerous; and in the distance the snowy hoods of the Catherine and Elizabeth mountains were visible above the clouds.
On Friday, at six o'clock, Cape Warender was passed on the right, and Admiralty Inlet on the left. There was a strong sea, and heavy waves frequently dashed over the bridge.
Hatteras would have liked to keep along the northern coast for the sake of reaching Beechey Isle sooner, but an impenetrable barrier of ice barred his further progress in that direction, and he was, to his great vexation, forced to go by the south.
This was the reason why the Forward found herself on the 26th at Cape York, easily recognized by a lofty and almost perpendicular mountain which overlooks it. The latitude was found on observation to be 74° 4", and the longitude 84° 23".
Hatteras opened the map, and pointed out to the Doctor the routes they had been taking and meant to take.
"We are in cross roads, may call it," he said, "open to the wind on all sides. Here is Lancaster Sound, Regent Inlet, Wellington Channel, and Barrow's Straits."
"It is a wonder to me how navigators know which route to take, when they have all four to choose from."
"Believe me there is little choice in the matter Sometimes Barrow's Straits are closed one year and open the next, and sometimes there is no passage at all but through Regent's Inlet."
"How the wind blows!" said the Doctor, drawing his hood closer over his ears."
"Yes, the north wind especially; it is so strong as to drive us out of our course."
"Well, but if it does that it surely ought to drive the ice south, and clear the way."
"It ought, but the wind doesn't always do what it ought. Look at that ice-field ahead; it looks perfectly impenetrable, and yet we must try to find some opening, for get to Beechey Isle I must at any rate, to replenish our stock of coal."
"Can you get coal there?" asked the Doctor, in astonishment.
"Most certainly. By order of the Admiralty, great stores were deposited there for the benefit of future expeditions; and though McClintock may have availed himself of them in 1859, there will be some left for us, I assure you."
"The Admiralty always kept five or six ships out here, I believe, till it was proved beyond a doubt that the whole of Franklin's ill-fated expedition had perished."
"Yes, they did. For fifteen years these regions were being explored, and one good result has followed anyway—that is our knowledge of the Polar Seas has greatly increased."
"It could hardly be otherwise, seeing the number of expeditions since 1848, when the first alarm was raised about the missing ships. Since McClintock returned in the Fox, however, not another vessel has ventured to try her fortune in those dangerous seas."
"Well, we'll try ours," said Hatteras, "come what may."