CHAPTER XXVIII.PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE.
Hatteras did not wish to let his crew know about this new condition ofaffairs. He was right. If they had known that they were being driventowards the north with irresistible force, they would have given wayto despair. The doctor knew this, and approved of the captain'ssilence.
Hatteras had kept to himself the impressions which this discovery hadcaused within him. It was his first moment of joy during these longmonths of struggle with the hostile elements. He was one hundred andfifty miles farther north; hardly eight degrees from the Pole! But hehid his joy so well that the doctor did not even suspect it; he askedhimself why Hatteras's eye shone with so unusual a lustre; but thatwas all, and the natural reply to this question did not enter hishead.
The _Forward_, as it approached the Pole, had drifted away from thecoal which had been seen by Sir Edward Belcher; instead of a hundredmiles, it would have to be sought two hundred and fifty miles farthersouth. Still, after a short discussion between Hatteras and Clawbonny,they determined to make the attempt.
If Belcher was right, and his accuracy could not be doubted, theywould find everything just at he had left it. Since 1853, no newexpedition had visited these remote continents. Few, if any, Esquimauxare found in this latitude. The disaster which had befallen at BeecheyIsland could not be repeated on the shores of North Cornwall.Everything seemed to favor an excursion across the ice.
They estimated that they would be gone forty days at the outside, andpreparations were made by Johnson for that time of absence.
In the first place, he saw about the sledge; it was of the shape ofthose used in Greenland, thirty-five inches broad and twenty-four feetlong. The Esquimaux sometimes make them fifty feet long. It was builtof long planks, bent at each end, and kept in position by two strongcords. This shape adapted it to resist violent shocks. The sledge raneasily upon the ice; but before the snow had hardened, it wasnecessary to place two vertical frames near together, and being raisedin this way, it could run on without cutting too much into the snow.Besides, by rubbing it with a mixture of sulphur and snow in theEsquimaux fashion, it ran very easily.
It was drawn by six dogs; they were strong in spite of their thinness,and did not appear to be injured by the severity of the winter; theharnesses of deerskin were in good condition; perfect reliance couldbe placed on the equipment, which the Greenlanders at Upernavik hadsold in conscience. These six animals alone could draw a weight of twothousand pounds without inordinate fatigue.
They carried with them a tent, in case it should be impossible tobuild a snow-house; a large sheet of mackintosh to spread over thesnow, so that it should not melt at contact with their bodies; and,last of all, many coverings of wool and buffalo-skin. In addition,they carried the Halkett-boat.
Their provisions consisted of five chests of pemmican, weighing fourhundred and fifty pounds; a pound of pemmican was allotted for eachman and dog; of the latter there were seven, including Duke; therewere to be four men. They carried, besides, twelve gallons of spiritsof wine, weighing nearly a hundred and fifty pounds; tea and biscuit,in proper amounts; a little portable kitchen, with a great many wicks;and much tow, ammunition, and four double-barrelled guns. The men ofthe party made use of Captain Parry's invention, and wore girdles ofindia-rubber in which the heat of the body and the motion in walkingcould keep tea, coffee, and water in a liquid state.
Johnson took special care of the preparation of snow-shoes, with theirwooden frames and leathern straps; they served as skates; onthoroughly frozen spots deerskin moccasins could be worn with comfort;every man carried two pairs of each.
These preparations, which were so important because the omission of asingle detail might have caused the ruin of the whole expedition,required four whole days. Every day at noon Hatteras took anobservation of the ship's position; it was no longer drifting, andthis had to be perfectly sure in order to secure their return.
Hatteras undertook to choose the four men who were to accompany him.It was not an easy decision to take; some it was not advisable totake, but then the question of leaving them on board had also to beconsidered. Still, the common safety demanded the success of thistrip, and the captain deemed it right to choose sure and experiencedmen.
Hence Shandon was left out, but not much to his regret. James Wall wastoo ill to go. The sick grew no worse; their treatment consisted ofrepeated rubbing and strong doses of lemon-juice; this was easily seento without the presence of the doctor being essential. Hence heenrolled himself among those who should go, and no voice was raisedagainst it. Johnson would have gladly gone with the captain in hisdangerous expedition; but Hatteras drew him to one side and said tohim in an affectionate, almost weeping voice,--
"Johnson, you are the only man I can trust. You are the only officerwith whom I can leave the ship. I must know that you are here to keepan eye on Shandon and the others. They are kept to the ship by thewinter; but who can say what plans they are not capable of forming?You shall receive my formal instructions, which shall place thecommand in your hands. You shall take my place. We shall be absentfour or five weeks at the most, and I shall be at ease having you herewhere I cannot be. You need wood, Johnson. I know it! But, as much aspossible, spare my ship. Do you understand, Johnson?"
"I understand, Captain," answered the old sailor, "and I will remainif you prefer it."
"Thanks!" said Hatteras, pressing the boatswain's hand; and he added,"In case we don't come back, Johnson, wait till the next thaw, and tryto push on to the Pole. If the rest refuse, don't think of us, buttake the _Forward_ back to England."
"That is your wish, Captain?"
"It is," answered Hatteras.
"Your orders shall be obeyed," said Johnson, quietly.
The doctor regretted that his friend was not going to accompany him,but he was obliged to recognize the wisdom of Hatteras's plan.
His two other companions were Bell the carpenter, and Simpson. Thefirst, who was sturdy, brave, and devoted, would be of great servicein their camping in the snow; the other, although less resolute,nevertheless determined to take part in this expedition in which hemight be of use as hunter and fisher.
So this detachment consisted of Hatteras, Clawbonny, Bell, Simpson,and the faithful Duke, making in all four men and seven dogs to befed. A suitable amount of provisions was made ready.
During the early days of January the mean temperature was -33 degrees.Hatteras waited impatiently for milder weather; he frequentlyconsulted the barometer, but no confidence could be placed in thisinstrument, which in these high latitudes seems to lose some of itscustomary accuracy; in these regions there are many exceptions to thegeneral laws of nature: for instance, a clear sky was not alwaysaccompanied by cold, nor did a fall of snow raise the temperature; thebarometer was uncertain, as many explorers in these seas have noticed;it used to fall when the wind was from the north or east; when low itforetold fine weather; when high, rain or snow. Hence its indicationscould hardly be relied on.
Finally, January 5th an easterly breeze brought with it a rise in thethermometer of fifteen degrees, so that it stood at -18 degrees.Hatteras resolved to start the next day; he could no longer endureseeing his ship torn to pieces before his eyes; the whole quarter-deckhad been burned up.
So, January 6th, amid squalls of snow, the order to depart was given;the doctor gave his last words of advice to the sick; Bell and Simpsonshook hands silently with their companions. Hatteras wanted to make afarewell speech to the men, but he saw nothing but angry faces aroundhim. He fancied he saw an ironical smile playing about Shandon's lips.He held his peace. Perhaps he had a momentary pang at parting as hegazed at the _Forward_.
But it was too late for him to change his mind; the sledge, loaded andharnessed, was waiting on the ice; Bell was the first to move; theothers followed. Johnson accompanied the travellers for a quarter of amile; then Hatteras asked him to return, which he did after a longleave-taking. At that moment, Hatteras, turning for the last timetowards the brig, saw the tops o
f her masts disappearing in the darksnow-clouds.