The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-12-29
THE FIELD OF ICE.
An Exciting Story Of Arctic Adventure.

bhirtY-five minutes" said the doctor.
eyes," said the captain.
We have yet seventy thousand eight
hundred and fifty-two miles, twenty
yards, fifteen feet and nine inches of
Ice to cross before we reach our ship
said the doctor.
ain that case, it is time we were off,"
said Hattcras.
awe have left from the explosion
two thousand pounds of roast turkey,
kegs of baked beans and elev-
Ell gallons of applejack," said the boat
swain.
tPack 'em on the sledge at once"
said the captain.
"And how long will our provisions
hold out2" asked the doctor.
"The applejack will probably last un-
til morning.. said the American.
"And after that?"
eve shall have to send to New
Jersey for more"
''But howr"
"Leave that TO me-" said the Ameri-
can.
"How is the temperature?" asked
the captain.
"One hundred and ten below zero"
"Good. Hand me my ear muff
Are we ready"
ave are," said his companions.
"To the north!" cried the captain,
executing song and dance and kick.
ing an Polar bear of an iceberg.
"To the north |" shouted his compan.
ions.
CHAPTER SECOND.
"All is not yet lost" said the cap
tain. al have just taken an observa
ton. We have yet few thousand
miles to go. Shall we push on, gentle
men?"
ave SHALL" cried his companions.
"We are down to the last drink, ,
sighed the American. "But l have
telephoned to Jersey City for fresl
supply. If it arrives on time we are
saved. There is not cold enough il
the Arctic regions to stand up agains
Jersey City whisky"
awe have not eaten anything for
seven weeks" said the doctor.
"But shall we turn back for trihes p
asked Hatteras. "Doctor, you musI
have plan. Has YOUR science gon
back on you at this critical momeht?"
"Give m, two weeks in which +
think over our situation," sale ~
doctor. sratino himself on q cake of Nc
and falling into brown study. sf
"Bear!" said the boatswain.
"Where? ?" asked The captain, excited
ly.
"They have been at onr heels for tn
last two MONTHS" said the boatswain.
"The applejack," said the doctor.
"Magnficent!" !" said the captain.
"Our ship and they are at our mercy
said the boatswain.
"Savedw said his companions.
CHAPTER THIRD.
awe have now occupied this SCOPE,
out iceberg for three years." said th
doctor.
"And there has been q monoton
about our existence which does nc
agree with my love of excitement,
said the American.
"You forget the whist" said the car
tain.
"You know l always prefer poker,
said the American.
at is simply a national prejudice,
said The captain.
"Gentlemen, you will not quarrel
with the temperature two hundred be
low zero," said the doctor. "Remen
Der we are now but three thousan
miles from the Pole. Save your breat
for our final effort"
ave will" said the captain, shakin
the hand of the American and settin
up the blubber oil for the crowd.
CHATTER FOURTH.
awe seem to be drifting into seetl
ing whirlpool" said the captain.
ayes, if we keep on this course fiV
minutes longer we shall probably all b
lost" said the doctor. "Let us take q
observation" and he went forward vii
his instru ment while the frail boat
which they were sailing whirled aroun
at the rate of two thousand revolution
a minute, and then suddenly shot out
right angles as though fired from hui
dred ton gun.
ga narrow escape" said the docto
quietly pocketing his glass and ventu
ing aft.
"How long is it since we lost Ii
American overboardr asked the boa
swain.
| "About four MONTHS" said tn Q dc
tor.
awe are now close upon the Pole
said Hatteras.
GAS near as can make out that mus
be 1t over there" said the doctor.
"You are right" said the captai
ITO England shall belong the glory {
its discovery"
"But it has strange look" said Il
doctor, gazing through his glai
Perhaps it's the fault ofthe Polar S,
atmosphere"
at is covered with stripes" erie
the captain, pulling his hair and leapir
ashore as the boat grounded upon /
beach.