The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras Read online

  CHAPTER II.AN UNEXPECTED LETTER.

  This is a copy of the letter received by Richard Shandon eight monthspreviously:--

  ABERDEEN, August 2, 1859.

  MR. RICHARD SHANDON, _Liverpool_.

  SIR,--This letter is to advise you of a remittance of 16,000 pounds,deposited with Messrs. Marcuart & Co., bankers, at Liverpool. Enclosedyou will find a series of drafts, signed by me, which will enable youto draw upon Messrs. Marcuart & Co. to the amount mentioned above.

  You do not know me. No matter; I know you, and that is enough. I offeryou the position of mate on board of the brig _Forward_, for a voyagewhich may be long and perilous.

  If you decline, well and good. If you accept, five hundred pounds willbe assigned you as salary, and at the end of each year of the voyageyour pay will be increased one tenth.

  The brig _Forward_ does not exist. You will be obliged to have itbuilt so that it will be possible to set to sea in the beginning ofApril, 1860, at the latest. Enclosed is a drawing with estimates. Youwill follow them exactly. The ship will be built in the stocks ofScott & Co., who will arrange everything with you.

  I beg of you to be specially cautious in selecting the crew of the_Forward_; it will consist of a captain (myself), a mate (you), asecond mate, a boatswain, two engineers, an ice-master, eight sailors,two stokers, in all eighteen men, including Dr. Clawbonny of thiscity, who will join you at the proper time.

  Those who are shipped on board of the _Forward_ must be Englishmen,independent, with no family ties, single and temperate; for the use ofspirits, and even of beer, will be strictly forbidden on shipboard:the men must be ready to undertake and endure everything.

  In your selection you will prefer those of a sanguine temperament, andso inclined to maintain a higher degree of animal heat.

  You will offer the crew five times their usual pay, to be increasedone tenth at the end of each year. At the end of the voyage each oneshall receive five hundred pounds, and you yourself two thousand. Therequisite sum shall be deposited with the above-named Messrs. Marcuart& Co.

  The voyage will be long and difficult, but one sure to bring renown.You need not hesitate, then, Mr. Shandon.

  Send your answer to the initials K. Z., at Gottenburg, Sweden, _posterestante_.

  P. S. On the 15th of February next you will receive a large Danishdog, with hanging lips, of a dark tawny color, with black stripesrunning crosswise. You will find place for him on board, and you willfeed him on barley bread mixed with a broth of lard. You willacknowledge the receipt of this dog by a letter to the same initialsat Leghorn, Italy.

  The captain of the _Forward_ will appear and make himself known at theproper time. As you are about setting sail you will receive newinstructions.

  K. Z.,_Captain of the Forward_.