Works of Jules Verne/Adventures of Captain Hatteras/The English at the North Pole/Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIII
PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING
The average temperature of the regions in which Hatteras found himself was 15° lower than any other part of the world. He was two hundred and fifty miles, by his reckoning, distant from the last point of known land—that is, from New Cornwall—and his ship was fast locked in ice, as if embedded in granite.
It was a terrible situation to be in, and he knew what a fearful winter he would have to go through, with a brig in such a position and a half-mutinous crew. But his courage rose to meet the danger, and he lost no time in commencing preparations for winter quarters, aided by the long experience of Johnson.
Far as the eye could see, there was nothing but ice; not a drop of water was visible in all the region. But the surface of the ice-fields was by no means smooth and uniform. Numerous icebergs raised their towering heads round the ship, forming such a belt, that on three sides she was completely sheltered from the wind, and only the southeast could blow on her. If one could only suppose rocks instead of icebergs and verdure instead of snow, and the sea in its normal condition, the Forward would have been lying in a pretty sheltered bay. But what desolation reigned around! What a dismal prospect met the gaze!
The first business of the crew was to anchor the brig securely, for, motionless as she was, there might be a sudden break up of the ice-field, or some submarine current might affect it. The sails were not taken down, but closely furled, and before long the ice had encased them completely. Only the running rigging was removed.
The pressure of the ice was so great, that it became necessary to cut it away all round the ship. The packs had accumulated on her sides, and weighed her down beyond her usual floating line. It was a tedious, difficult progress, occupying several days; but when at length the keel was released, the brig rose at once nine inches. Hatteras thought it advisable to take the opportunity of examining it thoroughly, while it was exposed. Thanks to the solidity of its construction, it was found to be quite uninjured, though the copper sheathing was almost entirely torn off.
The next business was to slope away the ice right along the hull, following the outline of the ship. By doing this, the ice-field united again under the keel and prevented all further pressure.
The Doctor lent a helping hand in all these operations, infecting the men with his own good-humor, and getting and giving information. He heartily approved of this adjustment of the ship, and thought it an excellent precaution.
"There is no other way of resisting the pressure, sir," said Johnson; "now we can build a wall of snow all round as high as the gunwale, and make it ten feet thick, if we like, for we have no lack of material.
"Capital!" said Dr. Clawbonny; "for snow is a non-conductor of caloric. It reflects instead of absorbs, and will prevent the internal heat from escaping."
"Yes, sir, and we not only fortify ourselves against the cold, but against four-footed enemies, should they take a fancy to pay us a visit. We'll make a famous job of it, and so you'll say when our work is finished."
"There will be two flights of steps outside the ship—one fore and one aft. As soon as the steps are cut, we shall pour water over them, and this will make them as hard as a rock, and we shall have stairs fit for a king."
Before long the whole vessel had disappeared beneath a thick coating of ice. A roof made of tarred canvas was spread over the deck the entire length of the ship and hanging down the sides. This was covered with snow, to prevent any external cold from penetrating. The deck was thus converted into a promenade, also covered with snow two and a half feet thick, well beaten and trodden down to make it as hard as possible. Over this a layer of sand was sprinkled, which became speedily incrusted, and gave the deck the appearance of a macadamized road.
"I shall soon fancy myself in Hyde Park," said the Doctor; "or in the hanging-gardens of Babylon."
At a convenient distance from the ship a fire-hole was made; that is to say, a well was dug in the ice, to provide a constant supply of water, a very necessary measure both for the frequent baths ordered the crew and in case of fire breaking out on board. This well was dug as deep as possible, as the water is not so cold as near the surface.
The interior of the vessel was arranged with a view to ward off the double danger of the Arctic regions—cold and damp. The first brings the second—a foe still more to be dreaded.
The Forward being constructed especially for the expedition, was admirably adapted for the purpose. The forecastle was wisely planned, and war had been successfully waged in the corners where damp first crept in. It would have been better if the men's room had been circular, but still with a good fire in the stove, it was very comfortable. The walls were hung with deers' skins, instead of anything woollen, as wool catches every vapor, and by their condensation, impregnates the atmosphere with humidity.
The partitions were taken down in the poop, and the officers had one common room larger and more airy than the forecastle, and also heated by a stove. Both it and the men's room had a sort of ante-chamber, which cut off all direct communication with the exterior. This prevented the heat from escaping, and made a gradual passage from one temperature to another. All wet clothes were put off in these vestibules, and snow scraped from the boots.
A proper provision was made for the admission of air into the stoves, and the fires were carefully regulated. The temperature was kept up at 50°, and the smallest possible amount of coal used, as Hatteras found, on inspecting the bunkers, that, with the severest, most rigid economy, he had only enough for two months longer.
A drying-place was contrived for such clothing as had to be frequently washed, for nothing could be dried in the open air.
The delicate parts of the engine were carefully removed, and the engine-room hermetically closed.
The regulation of the ship life was a matter of serious consideration to Hatteras. At six the men rose, and three times a week their hammocks were carried out into the fresh air. Every morning the planks of the two living rooms were rubbed with hot sand. Boiling tea was served up at each meal, and as much variety as was practicable introduced in the daily bill of fare. The dietary scale included bread, flour, suet, and raisins for puddings; sugar, cocoa, rice, lemon-juice, preserved meat, salt pork and beef, pickled cabbage, and mixed pickles. The kitchen was outside the living rooms; it would have been an addition to the heat to have placed it inside, but the cooking of food is a constant source of evaporation and moisture, so that it would have been a doubtful benefit.
Health is greatly dependent on food, and in high latitudes as much as possible of animal substances requires to be consumed.
"We must take example by the Esquimaux," said the Doctor; "they have been taught by nature, and are apt scholars. Arabs and Africans can live on a few dates and a handful of rice, but here it is important to eat much. An Esquimaux absorbs daily from ten to fifteen pounds of oil. If his fare would not meet your taste, you must replace it by substances which abound in oil and sugar; in a word, you must have carbon and make carbon. It is all well enough to put coals in the stove, but we must not forget we have a stove inside us which needs always replenishing."
The most scrupulous cleanliness was also rigidly enforced. Each man was obliged to take a bath of the icy water every other day as a matter of health, and also as an excellent means of preserving natural heat. The Doctor himself set the example; it was rather a trying operation at first, but in the end he found it positively agreeable.
The men had to be on their guard not to get frostbitten when they were out of doors shooting, or working or exploring. In the event of this happening, however, the frozen part was briskly rubbed with snow till circulation was restored. The clothing of the men was also carefully attended to; they were all wrapped in flannel, and wore deerskin capes and sealskin trousers.
The making of these several arrangements occupied three weeks, and the first of October arrived without any particular occurrence to record.