A Polar Eden; or, The Goal of the 'Dauntless.'

Front matter

A POLAR EDEN OB THE GOAL OF "THE DAUNTLESS" " HE FIRED HIS REVOLVER STRAIGHT INTO THE FACE OF THE ESKIMO." [/. A POLAR EDEN OB THE GOAL OF THE "DAUNTLESS" BV CHARLES R. KENYON AUTHOR OF " THE YOUNG RANCHMEN ; OR, PBfelLS OF PIONEERINO IN THE FAR WEST," " THE SOLE SURVIVORS," " THE FATE OF THE BLACK FLAGS," ETC. ETC. WITH FRONTISPIECE BY L. DAVIEL. LONDON S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO. 8 & 9 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. THE DEATH SHIP, 7 II. THE OLD LOG-BOOK, 12 III. A DAKING PROJECT, ....... 18 IV. NORTHWARDS 24 V. A DANGEROUS DILEMMA, 33 VI. HOW TIM FELL INTO TROUBLE, ..... 41 VII. A FIGHT WITH A SEA-HORSE, 49 VIII. CAUGHT IN THE ICE-PACK 59 IX. THE OLD LOG-BOOK VERIFIED, 67 X. IN THE GRIP OF THE MAELSTROM. .... 75 XI. THE LURID GLOW IN THE NORTHERN SKY, ... 83 XII. TIM SEIZED BY A BEAR 91 XIII.

AN ENCHANTING PROSPECT, 101 XIV. EXCITING EXPLORATION, 109 XV. ASCENDING THE VOLCANO 120 XVI. PANDEMONIUM 128 XVII. OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH, VI CONTENTS. CHAP. P*01 XVIII. A TUG OF WAR Ui XIX. IN THE SHAFT OF A DORMANT GEYSER, . . . 155 XX. A DIFFICULT RESCUE, l62 XXI. THE ENCHANTING VALLEY, 173 XXII. A TOLAR PARADISE 181 XXIII. AN EVENTFUL DAY, 194 XXIV. THE BOATSWAIN'S STORY, 205 XXV. EXCITING SPORT, -17 XXVI. A HAPPY REUNION, '--9 XXVII. THE WINTER SETTLEMENT 237 XXVIII. LEAVING THE POLAR EDEN 246 XXIX. TRAPPED, 255 XXX. THkOUGH THE DEATH GORGE, 266 XXXI. THE RETURN TO ENGLAND, ur; THE GOAL OF "THE DAUNTLESS." CHAPTEE I. THE DEATH SHIP. In the year 1775, the following weird incident was recorded by the captain of a Greenland whaler on his return from the Arctic Seas. Being on one occasion hemmed in by icebergs, be had to lay to .all night.

When morning broke he was not a little surprised to see another ship in close proximity to his own. He hailed her, but without result. Lowering a boat, he pushed off to the mysterious vessel, and, on approaching nearer, hailed again. Still receiving no answer, he laid his boat alongside the derelict, as he now concluded it must be. Peering through one of the port holes, however, he was startled to see a man sitting at the table, as though writing in a log-book. He called to him, but there was no response. By means of a chain which hung over the vessel's side, he managed to swing him self on deck. Descending into the cabin, he found the man sitting before the log-book frozen to death. Further observation showed that the whole ship's crew were frozen in their hammocks or at their posts. Beturning to the cabin, to search the log-book and other papers for information, he found that the entry which the captain had been making when seized by the icy hand of Death was dated 1762.

Chapter II. The Old Log-book

The following evening found Erik comfortably seated at table with Dick Grahame and his uncle, Mr Sylvester, in the weU-lighted dining-room at Eltham Hall. Dinner was over, and coffee had just been served. Responding to a nudge from Erik, Dick boldly plunged into the subject which was uppermost in their minds. " I wonder," he began, with an inquiring glance at the old savant, " what uncle would say to our startling project ? " " What project, my boy 1 Are you meditating a balloon voyage to Mars 1 " inquired Mr Sylvester. " Not exactly that, uncle," replied Dick, emboldened by the old gentleman's evident good humour, "but one which you may perhaps think scarcely less quixotic. We think of going in search of the North Pole." For several seconds Mr Sylvester stared at Dick in blank amazement. Then, having slowly set down his cup and adjusted his spectacles, he continued to gaze first at one and then the other of the young men.

If he were mentally gauging their capabilities, his scrutiny seemed to satisfy him, judging from the expression of his face. It would indeed have been difficult for him to find two finer specimens of young Englishmen. Though at first THE OLD LOG-

BOOK. 13

Erik's fair, boyish face might have caused the old man some misgivings, a closer observation revealed to him the unmistakable signs of a firm and self-reliant disposition, allied to dauntless energy and spirits. Dick, on the other hand, though but eighteen months Eric's senior, looked older than his twenty-two years warranted. In some respects he was almost the exact opposite of his friend, being dark and thoughtful looking ; and whilst not less brave and resolute in appearance, he yet displayed a calmer and more practical cast of countenance. The heal tli and physique of both lads left nothing to be desired. Tall, athletic, and sinewy, they would have more than satisfied the most exacting critic. " The North Pole," slowly repeated Mr Sylvester at length, after what seemed to the youths a very protracted silence, prepared as they were to meet with strenuous opposition.

" Well, if you are bent upon risking your lives somewhere, you might do worse in the interests of science than endeavour to emulate such men as Franklin, Parry, M'Clintock, and the Uke. But what, may I ask, put such an idea as this into your heads 1 " "Well, you see, sir," began Erik eagerly, "my great grandfather " "Excuse me a moment, old fellow," interrupted Dick, quietly, " but don't you think we had better show Uncle Simon the old log-book 1 " "By all means — I'll fetch it," promptly assented Erik, as with characteristic energy he dashed out of the room. In a marvellously short space of time he was back again with the precious volume under his arm, having come downstairs, as he went up, four steps at a time. " If you are proportionately as expeditious in getting to the North Pole and back, young man," said Mr Sylvester, snuling, " I shall not have to take a very long farewell of you."

"I hope not, sir," responded Erik, laughing. "But here's the log, and with your permission I will read you a few of the entries." " By all means. Its appearance is very suggestive — it might have belonged to the Ancient Mariner himself." " Begin at our favourite part," said Dick. " Here it is," answered his friend, as he ceased turning over the faded pages. " 'August 10th, 70° N. lat. Weather stUl lovely, but so far as whaling is concerned we have experienced a most unsuccessful season. Sea to the north'ard so wonderfully clear of ice, I feel impelled to seize so favourable an opportunity for testing an idea of mine that an open sea will be found beyond 85° N. lat. "'August 12th. We are bearing steadily north'ard under a favourable S.E. breeze.' " " Never mind reading every entry," said Dick ; " pass on to where they get caught in the ice."

" All right," answered Erik, turning over several pages, and then recommencing to read. " ' September 15th. Have made rapid progress to this point, latitude 82° north, and are still threading our way, with little difficulty, through the broken ice. " ' September 30th. Mountains of ice all round us. " ' October 5th. Sailing up a sort of narrow strait between the ice-fields towards a vast open sea plainly visible ahead. If this wind holds for a few hours longer we shall have entered an apparently iceless region, and then what discoveries may not be in store for us ! '" " How very exciting ! " exclaimed Mr Sylvester, rising from his chair. " But I mustn't interrupt. Pray pro- THE OLD LOG-

BOOK. 15

ceed," he continued, sitting down again as quickly as he had got up. Erik sighed, and continued to read. " ' Sunset. The wind has dropped, and we are becalmed in this perilous situation.' " " Oh," groaned Mr Sylvester, " how very tantalising for the brave old captain ! " Erik did not reply, but proceeded with the narrative in a strangely shaky voice. " ' October 6th. Worse and worse. Wind now blowing directly from the north. Ice closing in upon us as we drift helplessly southward.' " Another groan from Mr Sylvester. " ' October 7th. It is hard to be hemmed in here about 85° north latitude, with inadequate stores of food and clothing for an Arctic winter — for that seems likely to be our fates — but harder still to be baulked of one's ambition, just when success seemed certain. " ' October 10th.

Nothing for it but to make the best of a bad job. The wind has changed again to S.E. But, in spite of that, the cold becomes most intense, and the ice around us is all frozen into a solid mass, in which our good ship is immovably fixed. This is the more tantalising as I am now almost certain that a much warmer temperature prevails at the Pole. This conviction is borne out, not only by the open water beyond us, but by the fact that the winds which blow directly from the north are warmer than those from any other quarter.' " "Exactly," broke in Mr Sylvester, excitedly; "that precisely confirms my theory of aerial currents. The warm southerly breezes, which are drawn upwards by meteoric influences, and diffused through the higher strata of the atmosphere, are again deflected downwards by Polar magnetism, on approaching the extreme north.

Thus it is reasonable to suppose that a comparatively temperate climate may be found to prevail in the vicinity of the Pole." "Which opens up fascinating speculations as to what may perchance be revealed there," said Dick. " And to think that my adventurous old ancestor should have come so near to making the discovery, and yet have been baulked after all on the very threshold ! " exclaimed Erik. " It was beastly hard lines for him," he continued ; "but I hope we shall have better luck; and, if so, we'll name the land, if there is any, after him." " Aye, that's the rub," said Mr Sylvester, draining his cup of the last few drops of cold coffee, "that's the rub. There may be no land after all ; " and his spirits seemed to collapse at the possibility of such a finale. " Read on what is left," said Dick.

"There's not much, as you know," replied his friend ; " and if we had not spent so much time, in earlier days, in deciphering it, I should have great difficulty in reading what there is, for the writing is now becoming so shaky and indistinct." '"This cold is getting quite unbearable,'" continued Erik, reading from the log-book, " ' and I fear the crew wiU suffer much. I, too, feel its effects strangely to-night, and can scarcely keep myself awake. We ought to have had heavier clothing. I must make another effort to reach the open sea beyond us — it seems our only chance. Besides, my curiosity is raised to the highest pitch by the lurid glow in the northern sky last night, just after sunset. It seemed as though the rays of light had been caught and reflected by clouds of steam or vapour in the region of the Pole.

I must endeavour to clear up this mystery. We THE OLD LOG-BOOK. can but perish if we go forward, and death, I'm sure, awaits us if we remain where we are. To-morrow I will have some runners made for our largest whahng boat. Then, if there are stiU no signs of a return of milder weather, I shall wait no longer but push forward in that. The newly-formed ice is smooth enough, and when we reach its limits we must launch out into the mysterious open water beyond. Hopeful Ocean I feel inclined to name it. Most Ukely it is all that separates . . . Pole. I must rouse myself . . . this drowsiness is . . . overpowering . . . perhaps . . . Death . . . disguise . . . feel his icy fin . . .' " Erik's voice had grown quite husky, and now it stopped abruptly. " Is that all 1 " inquired Mr Sylvester earnestly.

The young sailor made no reply, but pushing the book over to his host, he pointed with his finger to where a huge blot showed how the pen had faUen from the captain's numbed fingers. B

Chapter III

A DARING PROJECT. For some moments no one spoke. Each seemed occupied with his own reflections. At last Dick's voice broke the silence. "It seems hard lines that the gallant old skipper should have perished on the very verge of what might have proved a wonderful discovery." "And all from want of proper equipment," said Mr Sylvester. "However," he continued cheerily, "he did enough to prove what I have always maintained, that there is nothing absolutely insuperable in a voyage to the North Pole." "Steam-power gives one such an advantage over the old sailing-vessels, I should think," remarked Dick. " Besides, we now know from the experience of former adventurers what to expect when the ice region is reached, and can devise means to surmount its peculiar difficulties." "Exactly," assented his uncle; "we must leave nothing to chance.

You must accompany me to Blackwall to morrow, and we'll call upon my old friend Captain Jones. He's had great experience in the seal and whale fisheries, and will be able to give us valuable advice." "No doubt the old salt will spin us a good yarn," said Erik, " out of which, may be, we can gather a A DARING PROJECT. wrinkle or two, but I should think the best plan will be to study the records of former expeditions, and then use our own judgment." "There can be no harm at any rate in seeing the old captain, and hearing what he has to say," interposed Dick, who was anxious not to offend his uncle. It was finaUy decided that they should act upon the latter's suggestion, and obtain all the information they could from Captain Jones ; and, as it turned out, this was the best thing they could have done.

The old sailor proved to be weU informed in all matters con nected with Arctic exploration, and he was able to put his interrogators into the proper channels for obtaining the very latest knowledge on all needful points. He seemed amused at the enthusiasm of his old friend, Simon Sylvester, but pooh-poohed his theories in regard to meteoric influences and magnetic currents. " If there is any land at the Pole," he said, "depend upon it, it will be so deeply buried in ice and snow that it will never be seen by anybody, even if they get so far." "We shall see, we shall see," replied Mr Sylvester, as he rose to leave. "Only wait," he continued, "until these young explorers return, and then see if my ex pectations are not verified." " Well, I hope for their sakes they may be, for other wise, they'll find their goal anything but a pleasant one," said the captain, laughing, as he accompanied his visitors to the gate of his trim little garden.

Within a fortnight after this, the indefatigable trio — for Mr Sylvester, too, had thrown all his energies into the project — were able to congratulate themselves upon having got their preparations well under way. With Captain Jones' help, they had succeeded in buying a smart little steamer of about 350 tons burden, which had been built purposely for the whale trade. But, owing to the failure of the owners, it had been seized for debt on its return from its first trip to the Northern Seas, and sold for what it would fetch. "The Dauntless," as they re-named her, proved to be in every way fitted for their purpose ; and Erik, in partic ular, was highly dehghted at the prospect of commanding such a tight httle craft, as he expressed it. Her late captain said he had never sailed in a stauncher boat, and congratulated the young men on her acquisition.

At his recommendation they engaged the engineer, stoker, and four of the seamen who had already served in her. A fifth hand, whom they subsequently engaged, came under their notice in rather a curious way. He was a young Irishman, named Tim Doolan. Dick and Erik were standing by the dock side one day, in rather close proximity to a huge crane, watching the men at work on their vessel, when they were startled by a loud shout. In an instant, Dick, who happened to be nearest the crane, felt himself seized from behind and lifted bodily to one side. Turning to resent such ignominious treatment, he found himself confronted by a gigantic sailor, who pointed to the crane, and in a rich brogue, which at once declared his origin, exclaimed, "By St Patrick and all the blessed saints, weren't you for being knocked into the whatter and drhowned enthirely."

At that very moment the arm of the huge machine. swung heavUy across the very spot where Dick had just been standing, and within a few inches of Erik. A DARING PROJECT. " By Jingo ! " exclaimed the latter in startled tones, " that was a narrow shave and no mistake." Their first impulse was to seize the saUor by the hand and thank him warmly for his timely aid. Then they invited him into a neighbouring eating-house, and gave him what Erik caUed a good square meal ; for the poor feUow said he was out of work, and had not tasted food that day. He had an open, honest countenance, which, together with his native droUery, quite won both their hearts. In enumerating his capabihties he declared that he was " hiligant at cookery "; so they thought he would be a useful addition to their crew, especiaUy as, on making inquiries, they found that he bore an exceUent character.

On being asked if he had any objection to signing for a voyage in search of the North Pole, he replied, " Not the laste, yer honours, though it's myself as can't see what good it'U do ye if ye does find it, an' at the best a poul's a moighty small thing to look for in the bhoundless ocean." Erik was beginning somewhat hurriedly to enlighten the poor fellow, when Dick, who was better pleased with the Irishman's simple answer than if he had been cleverer and more effusive, quietly stopped him. And Tim Doolan was forthwith engaged, and entered on the ship's books. The equipment and provisioning of the vessel took much anxious time and thought, but it was at last accomplished to the entire satisfaction even of Captain Jones and the experts whose advice had been sought by his recommendation. In addition to the usual implements and fittings for such an enterprise, several ingenious appliances of their own devising were stowed away in readiness for emergencies.

Chief amongst these was a large circular saw for cutting through the ice. This was the practical outcome of a crude suggestion of Mr Sylvester's, — the idea having been worked out by Dick and Erik, with the assistance of the engineer, who was quite a genius in his way. They contrived an arrangement by which the saw could be rigged up on a frame in front of the ship's prow and driven by belting from the engines. By means of a pulley, the huge disc could be raised or lowered at will, so as to enable it to operate on ice at almost any elevation. The next special contrivances of importance were several pairs of light steel runners with skeleton frameworks of the same metal. These were so constructed that besides constituting perfect light sledges in themselves, they could be easily and firmly fixed at the bottoms of the steamer's boats, thus converting these into sledges at will, without materially diminishing their sailing capacity when launched into the sea.

This sledge-boat combination was designed expressly to meet the difficulties peculiar to Arctic exploration. The leaders of several otherwise well-equipped expeditions had on former occasions been completely baffled by unexpected stretches of open water. They had always supposed that once the permanent ice was reached sledges drawn by dogs, or reindeer, would be the most suitable means of locomotion. It had never been anticipated that the so called Frozen Sea would prove to be intersected by wide reaches of open water. Besides a liberal supply of the most suitable clothing and provisions, and the numerous articles considered indispen sable for such an expedition, the young men obtained some things which would only be useful in the event of the old captain's conclusions, or Mr Sylvester's theories, proving substantiaUy correct.

One of the latter's latest ideas was that active volcanoes and other natural wonders would be A DARING PROJECT. found to abound in the vicinity of the Pole ; and he actually gave Dick a large packet of some chemical compound which, if opportunity offered, he was to throw into one of the craters at a certain date. This, he said, would cause a dark crimson vapour to be emitted for at least twenty-four hours afterwards. And by diUgently observing the Northern sky at the appointed time through his powerful telescope he hoped to descry the signal, and so learn of the success of the expedition and the truth of his conjectures simultaneously and expeditiously.

Chapter IV. Northwards

At length all was ready, and on the 1st of May " Th<' Dauntless " slipped her moorings and steamed slowly down the river. Mr Sylvester and Captain Jones accompanied the young voyageurs as far as Greenhithe, where the final adieus were said, and then "The Dauntless" stood out to sea. A couple of extra hands had been engaged for the run to Christiansand, where Hans Bjornsen and the Green lander Peters were to be picked up and the coal-bunkers replenished. During the passage to Norway " The Dauntless" proved herself in every way worthy of the good character given her by her late captain, and Erik was more than ever proud of his command. It took Dick some few days to find his sea-legs, as Erik expressed it ; but once that was accomphshed, he seemed to develop a natural aptitude for life aboard ship, and quickty learned to steer and even to take observations.

The crew, with the exception of one of the temporary hands, showed a most satisfactory attention to duty, and worked with a will. At Christiansand, the refractory sailor was, of course, paid off, but his mate begged to be allowed to remain on the ship's books ; and as he had NORTHWARDS. shown himself to be a quiet, hardworking sailor, and they were rather short-handed, his request was granted. This man's name was Tom Barleybread, and he turned out a most useful member of the crew. Hans Bjornsen found him so smart and intelUgent that he made him boatswain's mate. Tim Doolan, too, proved a capital feUow, and his irrepressible spirits and natural droUery were invaluable in maintaining mirth and good-fellowship aboard. Even his mistakes — and they were far from rare — were often extremely ludicrous.

A week or two after leaving Christiansand, Tim chanced to be taking his turn aloft in the crow's nest look-out when Dick, who was in charge of the deck, was startled by a cry of " Land ahoy ! " " Where away?" inquired Dick. " Just out of sight on the weather bow," was the absurd reply. " What do you mean, stupid?" " Sure an it's the North Poul, I do belave, by me sowl," answered Tim, earnestly. Dick could maintain his gravity no longer, but burst out laughing. " Sure, thin, it's no laughing matter at hall," cried Tim, in deeply injured tones, which nearly set young Grahame off again ; " wasn't it yerself as thould me it was right away beyant Iceland 1 " " Certainly," answered Dick, who had now ascended the mast to within a few feet of the crow's nest, and was searching the horizon with his glass.

" And haven't we passed Iceland a week ago ? " persisted Tim. "Somewhere about, I daresay." "Thin, if that's not the North Poul, what on uirth is it? There's somethin' stickin' out av the sea, be jabers ! " " That is Jan Mayen's island, I expect," was Dick's simple answer, as he closed his binocular and descended to acquaint Erik. "That's right," replied the latter, when he heard the news ; " I was beginning to think I must be out in my reckoning." " The head winds have doubtless delayed us a little," said Dick. "But Watkins says your orders were to proceed under easy steam." " Decidedly. My object was to economise the coal, for it's not very certain when we shall be able to procure a fresh supply." " Do you think it will hold out ? "That depends " " On whether we get closed in by the ice, I suppose, or fail to find the coal-beds said to have been discovered by former expeditions ?

" " Exactly," was the monosyllabic reply ; for the captain was now busily engaged in taking an observation. Several icebergs were seen soon after passing Jan Mayen ; but nothing of interest occurred until " The Dauntless " arrived within two or three days' sail of Spitzbergen. Then large fields of pack-ice were en countered, and notwithstanding all their efforts, they were several times caught and carried along by them. The advantage of having a vessel which had been specially built for these dangerous seas was now brought home to the explorers. The squeezing she went through before they at length got clear of the pack would have sufficed to wreck an ordinary ship. NORTHWARDS. 27 The weather was rather boisterous too, which made matters worse. And the way in which the huge masses of ice crunched and ground one another to pieces, or collided with a noise like thunder, was enough to appal the stoutest hearts.

" Holy mither of Moses ! " exclaimed Tim Doolan, " I never thocht there was so much ice in all the whorld, bedad ; and to think they're afther charging a penny a pound for it in Dublin, the swhindlers ! " "This is nothing to what you will see before we return," said Dick. " Faix, thin, I'm thinking we'll niver return at hall," was the melancholy answer. " Keep a stout heart, my good fellow, and all will be weU. We'll soon get clear of the loose ice, and then perhaps we shall encounter no more till we reach the frozen sea." " Shure an' I thocht the frozen say had raiched us, bad luck to it. But don't ye be afther tliinking I'm afeard. There's niver a mother's son o' the Doolans as wouldn't follow his leader anywhere." Next minute, at the call of the boatswain's whistle, Tim had hurried off to assist once more in keeping the vessel from the threatening icebergs.

His cheery manner, not less than his gigantic strength and the will with which he worked, made him invaluable at such a crisis as this. Hans Bjornsen was tireless in his efforts to save the ship, and was also ably seconded by his mate, Tom liarleybread. Erik, of course, had taken his stand upon the bridge, from which he gave his orders with a coolness and decision which would have done no discredit to his ancestors, the old sea-kings. His recent experiences in the navigation of Baffin's Bay were now of great use to him. Dick ably seconded his captain's efforts, encouraging here and lending a hand there, as required. After struggling with the ice, and fighting for their very lives as it were nearly a whole day, the explorers at last emerged from the pack into open water. On taking his reckoning Erik found they had drifted many miles to the westward, while entangled in the ice.

Two days later Spitzbergen was reached without further adventure. Steaming slowly along they dis covered a good natural harbour, where Erik brought his ship to anchor for the night. Next morning he and Dick went ashore and ascended a high hill which commanded a good view of the sea to the north and east. " There seems very little ice in sight," observed Dick, closing his telescope. " So little that I think we had better push on to the Seven Islands without delay," repUed Erik. "Yes; it won't do to throw away any opportunities of getting forward when they are so obhging as to present themselves." " Right, old fellow. The men can have a turn on shore to straighten their legs on one of the islands ahead." The young men descended the hill much more quickly than they had gone up. They were almost within sight of the landing-place when loud cries of alarm startled them.

Hastening forward, they soon discovered the cause. One of the sailors whom they had left in charge of the boat was running towards it, closely pursued by a band of Eskimo. The latter were armed with spears, and seemed bent on using them, to judge from the way they brandished them aloft. NORTHWARDS. " It's that fool Tim," exclaimed Erik ; " I wonder what he has been doing." " He'U be killed, to a certainty, if we don't do something to help him, for the savages seem very mad, and they are gaining upon him," answered Dick, as he unslung his rifle and rushed forward with the intention of trying to intercept the enemy. "Stop!" cried Erik; "our best plan will be to fire a volley with our revolvers to divert their attention. We can never arrive in time. Don't you see there's a deep gully between us and them ?