The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-01-11
J. Verne's Story.

three degrees thirty-fve minutes" said
the doctor.
YES" said the captain.
"We have yet 1882 miles, twenty
Yards, fifteen feet and nine inches OF ice
to cross before we reach our ship" said
the doctor.
Exactly" said the captain.
sit that case, it is time we were OFT,
said Hatteras.
1--WE have left from the explosion
1000 pounds of roast turkey, fourteen
kegs of baked beans and eleven gallons
of applejack. said the boatswain."
Pack 'em on the sledge at once, said
the captain.
"How long will our provisions hold
out?" asked the doctor.
"rhe appleiack will probably last I'M
til morning" said the American.
"And after that?'
1--WE shall have to send to New Jersey
for more"
"But how?'
leave that to me-" said the Ameri.
can.
"How is the temperatures" asked tie
captain.
"Good! Hand me my ear muffs.
Are we ready"
"We are" said his companions.
ITO the north!" cried the captain, ex-
ecuting song and dance and kicking
Polar bear off an iceberg.
ITO the north.' shouted his compan-
ions.
CHAPTER. II.
"All is not yet lost, said the captain.
81 have Just taken an observation. We
have yet few thousand miles to go.
Shall we push on gentlemen?"
I'VE shall" cried his companions.
"We are down TO our last drink,
sighed the American. "But l have tele-
phoned to Jersey City for a fresh supply.
If it arrives in time we are saved. There
is not cold enough in the Arctic re-
gions to stand up against Jersey City
whisky"
"We have not eaten anything for seven
weeks" said the doctor.
"But shall we turn back for trihes?"
asked Hatteras. doctor, you must
have q plan. Has your science gone
back on Won at this critical moment?"
"Give me two weeks in which to think
over our situation" said the doctor,
seating himself on a cake of ice and fall
ing into brown study.
Bears said the bostswain.
"Where?" asked the captain ,excitedly.
"They have been at our heels for the
last two months" said the boatswain.
1.-The applejack," said the doctor.
Magnificent said the captain.
Zone sip and they are at our mercy,
said the boatswair.
"Saved!" said his companions.
CHAPTER III.
"We have now occupied this scooped
out iceberg for three years" said the
doctor.
"And there has been a 'monotony
about our existence which does not agree
with nv love of excitement said the
American.
"You forget the whist" said the cap
tain. y.
"You know I always prefer poker"
said the American.
'It is simply national prejudice"
said the captain.
Gentlemen, you will not quarrel with
the doctor. Remember we. are now
but 5000 miles from the Pole. Save
your breath for our final effort"
"We will" said the captain, shaking
the hand of the American and setting up
the blubber oil for the crowd.
CHAPTER ~.
1--WE seem to be drifting into seetE-
ing whirlpool" said the captain.
Eyes, if we keep on this course five
minutes longer we shall probably all be
lost f" said the doctor. "Let us take an
observation and he went forward with
his instrument while the frail boat on
which they were sailing whirled around
at the rate of two thousand evolutions
minute, and then suddenly shot out at
right angles as though fired from u hun
bred ton gun.
"A narrow escape" said the doctor,
quietly pocketing his glass and venturing
aft.
How long is it since we lost the
American overboard?' asked the boat
swain.
about four months" replied the doc
tor.
I'VE are now close upon the Pole"
said Hatteras.
.sAs near as can make out that must
be il over there" said the doctor.
lyon are right" said the captain. ITO
England shall belong the glory Of its
discovery"
but It has a strange look" said the
doctor, gazing through his glass. "Per-
haps it's the fault Of the Polar Sea at
mosphere."
"it is covered with stripes" cried
the captain. pulling his hair and leaping
ashore as the boat grounded upon the