Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-12-19
AN ARCTIC ADVENTURE.

after seals:
started with Hans and FIVE dogs,
all we could muster from our disabled
pack, and reached the 'Piuaely Berg in
a single hours run. But where was the
water where were the seals The foes /
had closed and the crushed ice was all
that told of our intended hunting ground. /
Ascending berg, however We could
see TO the north and -west the dark cloud /
stratus which betokens water. 1t ran
through our old battle ground, the 'Ber-
gy Belt-the labyrinth of our wandering
after the frozen party Of last winter. !
had not been over it since, and the feel
ing It gave me was anything but joyous.
In a couple of hours we emerged up
on plain unlimited to the eye, and
smooth as a bilIiard-table. Feathers of
young frosting gave plush-hke nap to
its surface, and towards the horizon dark
columns of frost smoke pointed clearly
to the open water. This ice was firm
enough our experience satisfied US that
4 It was not a very recent freezing. We
pushed on without hesitation, cheering
ourselves with the expectation of coming
every minute to the seals. We passed
second ice-growth: il was not so strong
as the one we had just come over, but
still safe for party like ours. On We
went, at a brisk gallop, maybe for another
mile, when Hans sang out at the top of
his voice, "Pusey puseymut! seal, seal :"
at the same instant the dogs bounded for
; ward, and, as looked up, saw crowds
Of grey netsick, the rough or hispid seal
I Of the whalers, disporting in an open sea
Of water.
had hardly welcomed the spectacle
, when I saw that we had passed upon a
new belt Of ice that was obviously unsafe.
: To the right, and left and front was one
great expanse of snow-howered ice. The
nearest solid foe was mere lump, which
stood like an island in the white level
To turn was impossible we had to keep
up our gait. We urged on the dogs Will
i whip and voice, the ice rolling like lcath.
0 er beneath the sledge runners it was
more than a mile to the lump of solid ice
j Fear gave to the poor beasts their ut
most speed, and our voices were soon
: hushed to silence.
The suspense, unrelieved by action or
effort, was intolerable. We knew that
there was no remedy but to reach the foe
and that everything depended upon our
dogs alone. A moments check would
plunge the whole concern into the rapid
" tide-way. No presence Of mind or re.
source, bodily or mentally, could avil Us
} The seals-for we were now near enough
to see their expressive faces-were look
y ing at US with that strange curiosity which
seems to be their characteristic expires
sion. We must have passed some fifty
Of them, breast high out of water, mock
ing US by their selfeomplacency.
This desperate race against fate coulc
not last. The rolling Of the tough sal
water ice terrified our dogs, and when
within fifty PAGES from the foe they paus-
ed. The left hand runner went through
" our leader, "Toodlamick, /" followed ant
in one second the entire left ofthe sledgc
{ was submerged. My first thought wa.
i to liberate the dogs. ! leaned forwarc
i to cut poor Tood's traces, and next mi
mute was swimming in little circle 0
pasty ice and water along with him
Hans, dear good fellow, drew near {,
help me, utterring piteous expressions il
N broken English; but / ordered him Il
J. throw himself on his belly, with hi
r. hands and legs extended, and TO make 70
Of the island by cogging himself forwar'
4. with his jack-kniie. In the mean tim
q "a mere instant--I was Aoundering abou
Is with sledge, dogs and lines, in confusei
+ puddle around me.
ct Isucceeded in cutting poor foods line
et and letting him scramble to the ice-fo
Il, the poor fellow was drowning me with hi
e, piteous earesses-and made my way 70
IA the sledge; but / found that il would nc
le buoy me, and that / had no resource bu
~ to try the circumference Of the hol'
r. Around this padded faithfully the mii
he cradle ice always yielding when m
th hopes Of q lodgment were greatest. Dur
< ing this process | enlarged my circle G
r operations 70 a very uncomfortable d
h, ameier. and was beginning 70 feel Keak
~ er after every effort. Hans, meanwhile
he had reached the firm ice, and was on hi
.es knees, ike good Moragian, prayin
eh incherently in English and Esquimeau,
in at every fresh crushing in Of the lee b
lie would calculate "Godw and when n