Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-06

be Celieved, seized upon the seal Nd Calico
it off. without as much as a growl OF thanks,
In the direction of its den. From that mo-
ment NJ Lafeur no longer went harpoon-
ing unless armed with his gun.
The chief of police had, itseems, acquired
taste of seal flesh. After having followed
the Partisan once or twice, he borrowed his
harpoon and succeeded in capturing superb
SEAL the best cuts of the fat of which he
carefully laid aside.
This astonished Yegor.
'What does he want with that supply Of
fat!" asked he of NJ. Lafleur. ....
What did he want with ita Seeing that
the Yakoutes did not return, he was reso-
lutely thinking of fight and getting ready
his provisions for his journey.
CHAPTER XXIX.-THE ICE-BOUND SHIP AND ITS
SKELETON CREW.
Nadege and Ladislas had much repug-
nance for seal fesh-perhaps, because they
had tasted the strange food preparations Of
the native couple who had visited them
that NJ Lafeur induced Yegor to resume
hunting the white bear. -
Hunger was making itself cruelty felt in
the hut, when one morning Yegor and his
friend went courageously upon the frozen
surface of the sea- The cold, very sharp for
some days past, had solidified it, this time,
beyond all danger of accident.
The hunters walked for more than four
miles among the heaps of broken ice blocks
which formed the hummocks adhering to
the shore. The two Siberian dogs accom-
panied them. Wab had been left at the
hut for the security of Nadege and Lad
islas.
They arrived in front of broad and lofty
icebergs, which had come there from afar
off, from the west, doubtless, and probably
from the coast of Greenland where the
mountains of ice necessarily detach them
selves with the crash of thunder, from i'm
mense glaciers often more than fifty miles
in extent.
Suddenly from the summit of a painfully
climbed iceberg, Yegor saw, hidden, buried
behind enormous icy masses, a stout ribbed
ship, motionless and enclosed in field Of
ice. He uttered a cry of surprise and point
ed out his discovery to M, Lafeur, who at
that moment reioined him.
Upon the frozen and greenish white sea-
where the whiteness of the snow initiated
the foam of the waves, the black carcass of
the ship stood out darkly, with white net
work spread by the snow over all the parts
in relief as if to bring out the hues of morn
ing. But the deck, the masts, the yards
and the cordage, covered with beautiful
star shaped snow crystals, which shone
with thousand lustres in the sun, drove
away this first impression, substituting for
it the comparison of gigantic geWgaW of
spun glass.
The first movement of Yegor and M. LAT
leur was to retreat down the side of the ice
berg, which would hide them, and from
whence they could observe whether they
had to deal with friends or enemies The
ship bore neither sails nor flag; the thick,
square shape of it's ribs was that Of the fish
ing vessels which face the dangers of the
navigation of the polar seas. The dogs
barked. They silenced them.
After half minutes attention, M. LAT
leur saw moving on board creature en-.
veloped in an animals skin; perhaps, the
lookout of the ship had seen and was watch.
ing them. ill.,.
eve are Observed" said M. Lafleur.
'.Wait a little my friend" answered
Yegor, who saw the dogs with their hair
standing on end; and with the words, aim
ing his gun, he fired at the so-called look
out. u.''
'sWhat are you doing?" cried M. .Lafeur,
alarmed. .'."
II was sure that it was not man?" said
Yegor, with laugh. Let go the dogs!"
A huge white bear shook itself upon the
deck, perplexed by the hiss of the ball about
its ears.
'sIt is a bear!" cried the Partisan, ''and
the first we have met to-day"
The two dogs were already running around
the ship, barking furiously, but keeping at
prudent distance.
but the ship?" said Yegor, with some
constraint 1T is, perhaps, the phantom
ship of the legends"
'"Those legends are laughed at on tie
banks Of the Seine" onservel the Paris
ian. For u.s. this enormous bulk OF wood
is nothing else, to all appearances, than the
den of bear-some ship abandoned by its
crew"
VERY likely" said Yegor "aud in that
case we will, perhaps, find in it supplies that
will enable US to dispense with pursuing our
Improbable hunt" .,..
Gas to the bear" said M Laf1eur, Kit is
upon a territory to which we have much
better right" ..
''The least we can do is to dislodge it."
said Yegor.
The bear had disappeared. 1t had, with
| out doubt, taken refuge in the between
decks.
The two hunters glided to the base of the
iceberg, and approached the vessel without
further delay. Yegor quickly recognized it
as Dutch whaler
| Soon they reached the round sides of the
| ship. They hailed-no one answered.
! ''Evidently there is not living soul on
| board" said Yegor,
''Otherwise, we would have to believe
| that the bear was tame!" observed M. Laf-
| leur.
| They climbed upon the deck. leaving their
| dogs on the ice, and there q horrible specta-
Gle presented itself to their gaze.
| Five men-fve skeletons clad in sailors
| garments-were stretched upon the uoo4.,
amid objects and wrecks of all sorts.
''Poor fellows !" cried Yegor. ..
In their horror, they forgot the bear.
| Nevertheless, the sound Of steps was heard
| below. ....
attention." cried M. Lafeur. "That
must be the bear!n
The dogs continued to bark as if to keep
them on the lookout.
At this moment the white head Of bear
! appeared at one of the hatchways, with its
pointed muzzle, its open and menacing mouth
and its ferocious looking red eyes.
Yegor, without loss of time, lodge a ball
in the animals neck. Mortally wounded,
| it bounded with rage towards its assailant
! M. Lafleur fired J; I his turn; but he hit the
| bear on the ear, and the creature paid no
attention TO such trile.