CHAPTER XVIII.THE LAST PREPARATIONS.
The next day the weather changed; there was a return of cold; the snowand rain gust raged for many days.
Bell had finished the launch; it was perfectly satisfactory for thepurpose it was intended for; partly decked, and partly open, it couldsail in heavy weather under mainsail and jib, while it was so light asnot to be too heavy a load on the sledge for the dogs.
Then, too, a change of great importance was taking place in the stateof the polar basin. The ice in the middle of the bay was beginning togive way; the tallest pieces, forever weakened by the collision of therest, only needed a sufficiently heavy tempest to be torn away and tobecome icebergs. Still, Hatteras was unwilling to wait so long beforestarting. Since it was to be a land journey, he cared very littlewhether the sea was open or not. He determined to start June 25th;meanwhile all the preparations could be completed. Johnson and Bellput the sledge into perfect repair; the frame was strengthened and therunners renewed. The travellers intended to devote to their journeythe few weeks of good weather which nature allows to these northernregions. Their sufferings would be less severe, the obstacles easierto overcome.
A few days before their departure, June 20th, the ice had so many freepassages, that they were able to make a trial trip on board of the newlaunch as far as Cape Washington. The sea was not perfectly free, farfrom it; but its surface was not solid, and it would have beenimpossible to make a trip on foot over the ice-fields. This half-day'ssail showed the good sailing qualities of the launch. During thereturn they beheld a curious incident. It was a monstrous bear chasinga seal. Fortunately the former was so busily occupied, that he did notsee the launch, otherwise he would certainly have pursued it; he kepton watch near a crevasse in the ice-field, into which the seal hadevidently plunged. He was awaiting his reappearance with all thepatience of a hunter, or rather of a fisherman, for he was reallyfishing. He was silent, motionless, without any sign of life. Suddenlythe surface of the water was agitated; the seal had come up tobreathe. The bear crouched low upon the ice, and rounded his two pawsabout the crevasse. The next moment the seal appeared, with his headabove water; but he had not time to withdraw it. The bear's paws, asif driven by a spring, were clashed together, strangling the animalwith irresistible force and dragging it out of the water.
It was but a brief struggle; the seal struggled for a few seconds, andwas then suffocated on the breast of his adversary, who, dragging himaway easily, in spite of his size, and springing lightly from onepiece of ice to another, reached land and disappeared with his prey.
"The seal struggled for a few seconds, and was thensuffocated on the breast of his adversary."]
"A pleasant journey!" shouted Johnson; "that bear has got rather toomany paws!"
The launch soon reached the little anchorage Bell had made for her inthe ice.
Only four days were there before the time fixed for their departure.Hatteras hurried on the last preparations; he was in a hurry to leaveNew America, a land which was not his, and which he had not named; hedid not feel at home.
June 22d they began to carry to the sledge their camp-material, tent,and food. They carried only two hundred pounds of salt meat, threechests of preserved meat and vegetables, fifty pounds of pickles andlime-juice, five quarters of flour, packets of cresses and cochleariafrom the doctor's garden; with the addition of two hundred pounds ofpowder, the instruments, arms, and personal baggage, the launch,Halkett-boat, and the weight of the sledge itself, the whole weighedfifteen hundred pounds,--a heavy load for four dogs, especially since,unlike the Esquimaux, who never travel more than four days insuccession, they had none to replace them, and would have to work themevery day. But the travellers determined to aid them when it wasnecessary, and they intended to proceed by easy stages; the distancefrom Victoria Bay to the Pole was three hundred and fifty-five milesat the outside, and going twelve miles a day they could make thejourney in a month. Besides, when the land came to an end, the launchwould enable them to finish the journey without fatigue for dogs ormen.
The latter were well, and in excellent condition. The winter, althoughsevere, ended favorably enough. Each one had followed the doctor'sadvice, and escaped from the diseases common in these severe climates.In fact, they had grown a trifle thinner, which gave a great deal ofpleasure to Clawbonny; but their bodies were inured to the rigors ofthat life, and these men were able to face the severest attacks ofcold and hunger without succumbing. And then, too, they were going tothe end of their journey, to the inaccessible Pole, after which theironly thought would be of returning. The sympathy which bound togetherthe five members of the expedition would aid their success in thisbold trip, and no one doubted of their success.
As a precaution, the doctor had urged his companions to preparethemselves for some time beforehand, and to "train" with much care.
"My friends," he used to say, "I don't ask you to imitate the Englishracers, who lose eighteen pounds after two days' training, andtwenty-five after five days, but we ought to do something to get intothe best possible condition for a long journey. Now the firstprinciple of training is to get rid of the fat on both horse andjockey, and this is done by means of purging, sweating, and violentexercise. These gentlemen know they will lose so much by medicine, andthey arrive at their results with incredible accuracy; such a one whobefore training could not run a mile without being winded, can runtwenty-five easily after it. There was a certain Townsend who ran ahundred miles in twelve hours without stopping."
"A good result," answered Johnson; "and although we are not very fat,if we must get thinner yet--"
"There is no need of it, Johnson; but without exaggerating, it can'tbe denied that training produces good effects; it strengthens thebones, makes the muscles more elastic, improves the hearing and thesight; so let us not forget it."
In short, whether in training or not, the travellers were ready June23d; it was Sunday, and the day was devoted to absolute rest.
The time for departure drew near, and the inhabitants of FortProvidence could not see it approach without a certain emotion. Itgrieved them to leave this snow-hut which had served so well toprotect them; Victoria Bay, this hospitable shore where they had spentthe last days of the winter. Would they find these buildings standingwhen they returned? Would not the rays of the sun melt away itsfragile walls?
In a word, they had passed pleasant hours there. The doctor, at theevening meal, called up to his companions' memory touchingreminiscences, and he did not forget to thank Heaven for its evidentprotection.
At last the hour of sleeping came. Each one went to bed early, so asto be up betimes. Thus passed their last night at Fort Providence.