The Field of Ice Page 16

  THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE.

  Next morning, Altamont Bell and the Doctor repaired to the Porpoise.There was no lack of wood, for, shattered as the old"three-master" had been by the icebergs, she could still supplythe principal parts of a new ship, and the carpenter began his taskimmediately.

  In the end of May, the temperature again rose, and spring returnedfor good and all. Rain fell copiously, and before long the meltingsnow was running down every little slope in falls and cascades.

  Hatteras could not contain his delight at these signs of a generalthaw among the ice-fields, for an open sea would bring him liberty.At last he might hope to ascertain for himself whether hispredecessors were correct in their assertions about a polar basin.

  This was a frequent topic of thought and conversation with him, andone evening when he was going over all the old familiar arguments insupport of his theory, Altamont took up the subject, and declaredhis opinion that the polar basin extended west as well as east. Butit was impossible for the American and Englishman, to talk longabout anything without coming to words, so intensely national wereboth. Dr. Kane was the first bone of contention on this occasion,for the jealous Englishman was unwilling to grant his rival theglory of being a discoverer, alleging his belief that though thebrave adventurer had gone far north, it was by mere chance he hadmade a discovery.

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  "Chance!" interrupted Altamont, hotly. "Do you mean to assertthat it is not to Kane's energy and science that we owe his greatdiscovery?"

  "I mean to say that Dr. Kane's name is not worth mentioning in acountry made illustrious by such names as Parry, and Franklin, andRoss, and Belcher, and Penny; in a country where the seas opened theNorth-West Passage to an Englishman--McClure!"

  "McClure!" exclaimed the American. "Well, if ever chancefavoured anyone it was that McClure. Do you pretend to deny it?"

  "I do," said Hatteras, becoming quite excited. "It was hiscourage and perseverance in remaining four whole winters among theice."

  "I believe that, don't I?" said Altamont, sneeringly. "Hewas caught among the bergs and could not get away; but didn't heafter all abandon his ship, the Investigator, and try to get backhome? Besides, putting the man aside, what is the value of hisdiscovery? I maintain that the North-West Passage is stillundiscovered, for not a single ship to this day has ever sailed fromBehring's Straits to Baffin's Bay!"

  The fact was indisputable, but Hatteras started to his feet, andsaid--

  "I will not permit the honour of an English captain to be attackedin my presence any longer!"

  "You will not permit!" echoed Altamont, also springing erect."But these are facts, and it is out of your power to destroythem!"

  "Sir!" shouted Hatteras, pale with rage.

  "My friends!" interposed the Doctor; "pray be calm. This is ascientific point we are discussing."

  But Hatteras was deaf to reason now, and said angrily--

  "I'll tell you the facts, sir."

  "And I'll tell you," retorted the irate American.

  "Gentlemen," said Clawbonny, in a firm tone; "allow me tospeak, for I know the facts of the case as well as and perhapsbetter than you, and I can state them impartially."

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  "Yes, yes!" cried Bell and Johnson, who had been anxiouslywatching the strife.

  "Well, go on," said Altamont, finding himself in the minority,while Hatteras simply made a sign of acquiescence, and resumed hisseat.

  The Doctor brought a chart and spread it out on the table, that hisauditors might follow his narration intelligibly, and be able tojudge the merits of McClure for themselves.

  "It was in 1848," he said, "that two vessels, the Herald andthe Plover, were sent out in search of Franklin, but their effortsproving ineffectual, two others were despatched to assist them--the Investigator, in command of McClure, and the Enterprise, incommand of Captain Collison. The Investigator arrived first inBehring's Straits, and without waiting for her consort, set outwith the declared purpose to find Franklin or the North-WestPassage. The gallant young officer hoped to push north as far asMelville Sound, but just at the extremity of the Strait, he wasstopped by an insurmountable barrier of ice, and forced to winterthere. During the long, dreary months, however, he and his officersundertook a journey over the ice-field, to make sure of itscommunicating with Melville Sound."

  "Yes, but he did not get through," said Altamont.

  "Stop a bit," replied Clawbonny; "as soon as a thaw set in,McClure renewed his attempt to bring his ship into Melville Sound,and had succeeded in getting within twenty miles, when contrarywinds set in, and dragged her south with irresistible violence. Thisdecided the captain to alter his course. He determined to go in awesterly direction; but after a fearful struggle with icebergs, hestuck fast in the first of the series of straits

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  which end in Baffin's Bay, and was obliged to winter in Mercy Bay.His provisions would only hold out eighteen months longer, but hewould not give up. He set out on a sledge, and reached MelvilleIsland, hoping to fall in with some ship or other, but all he foundin Winter Harbour was a cairn, which contained a document, statingthat Captain Austin's lieutenant, McClintock, had been there thepreceding year. McClure replaced this document by another, whichstated his intention of returning to England by the North-WestPassage he had discovered, by Lancaster Sound and Baffin's Bay,and that in the event of his not being heard of, he might be lookedfor north or west of Melville Island. Then he went back to Mercy Baywith undaunted courage, to pass a third winter. By the beginning ofMarch his stock of provisions was so reduced in consequence of theutter scarcity of game through the severity of the season, thatMcClure resolved to send half his men to England, either byBaffin's Bay or by McKenzie River and Hudson's Bay. The otherhalf would manage to work the vessel to Europe. He kept all his bestsailors, and selected for departure only those to whom a fourthwinter would have been fatal. Everything was arranged for theirleaving, and the day fixed, when McClure, who was out walking withLieutenant Craswell, observed a man running towards them, flingingup his arms and gesticulating frantically, and on getting nearerrecognized him as Lieutenant Prim, officer on board the Herald, oneof the ships he had parted with in Behring's Straits two yearsbefore.

  Captain Kellett, the Commander, had reached Winter Harbour, andfinding McClure's document in the cairn, had dispatched hislieutenant in search of him. McClure accompanied him back, andarranged with the captain to send him his batch of invalids.Lieutenant Craswell took charge of these and conveyed them safely toWinter Harbour. Leaving them there he went across the ice fourhundred and seventy miles, and arrived at Isle Beechy, where, a fewdays afterwards, he took passage with twelve men on board thePhoenix, and reached London safely on the 7th of October, 1853,having traversed the whole extent between Behring's Straits andCape Farewell."

  "Well, if arriving on one side and leaving at the other is notgoing through, I don't know what is!" said Hatteras.

  "Yes, but he went four hundred and seventy miles overice-fields," objected Altamont.

  "What of that?"

  "Everything; that is the gist of the whole argument. It was notthe Investigator that went through."

  "No," replied Clawbonny, "for, at the close of the fourthwinter, McClure was obliged to leave her among the ice."

  "Well, in maritime expeditions the vessel has to get through, andnot the man; and if ever the Northwest Passage is practicable, itwill be for ships and not sledges. If a ship cannot go, a sloopmust."

  "A sloop!" exclaimed Hatteras, discovering a hidden meaning inthe words.

  "Altamont," said the Doctor, "your distinction is simplypuerile, and in that respect we all consider that you are in thewrong."

  "You may easily do that," returned the American. "It is fouragainst one, but that will not prevent me from holding my ownopinion."

  "Keep it and welcome, but keep it to yourself, if you please, forthe future," exclaimed Hatteras.

  "And pray what right have you to speak to me like this, sir?"shouted Altamont, in a fu
ry.

  "My right as captain," returned Hatteras, equally angry.

  "Am I to submit to your orders, then?"

  "Most assuredly, and woe to you if----"

  The Doctor did not allow him to proceed, for hereally feared the two antagonists might come to blows.--P.162]

  The Doctor did not allow him to proceed, for he really feared thetwo antagonists might come to blows. Bell and Johnson seconded hisendeavours to make peace, and, after a few conciliatory words,Altamont turned on his heel, and walked carelessly away, whistling"Yankee Doodle." Hatteras went outside, and paced up and downwith rapid strides. In about an hour he came back, and retired tobed without saying another word.

  CHAPTER XVI.