Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-13
THE EXILES.
A RUSSIAN STORY.

''Why were not the first who died buried
by the others" asked Yegor Of NJ. Lafeur.
Because my friend" replied the latter,
1.-THE entire crew must have been stricken
with that terrible disease known rs the
scurvy. Those who have it are attacked by
an intolerable stiffness Of the legs; they
limp they can neither sleep nor even rest;
they lose all appetite, and their infamed
gums are extremely painful, while general
weakness of the body promptly comes on
it is the Indication of approaching disso-
luton. The death of these brave mariners
must have occurred last winter But what
if, in this between-decks which is carefully
stopped up and in which the air has not
been renewed, we ourselves should take the
scurvy2"
sit is easily taken, then9"
eyes; but always under like conditions"
"Such is, happily, not the case with US
Let us have some air and go straight to the
provisions.
With his Ratchet which he still retained
possession of, Yegor cut the ropes which
closed the scuttles. Air and light penetrat-
sd into the between decks.
1--WE inherit everything" said M. Lafeur.
"On one condition"
s'What is that?n
"That we give sepulture to the remains OF
these unfortunates."
"Agreed. But look-they possessed an
organ"
SIT was, without doubt, to abridge the
WEAKNESS of the long winter"
Beside the stove, in company with the
coal-box, a hand-organ stood upon low ta-
ble M. Lafeur turned the handle and,
by sort of poignant irony, the instrument
gave vent to some strains of a gay dan &c
air.
Then, Yegor and M. Lafeur, affected in
the highest degree by the contrast of this
lively music with the heart-rending pic
ture before them, felt tears come into their
eyes.
On the organ was large book.
Yegor glanced at tit was Dutch Bible
Upon the margins of the book could be read
traced by the failing hand of the captain
the names of the first sailors who died, fol
lowed by some sad reflections. YegOr, who
knew English and German, understood
enough of the Dutch language to obtain
from this record the explanation Of this
tragedy OF the polar seas. The Whaler haC
been surprised by the ice at the Island Of
Barentz, belonging to the Spitzbergen group
M. Laf1eur had not been wrong in consider
ing the scurvy the active cause of the death
of all the crew.
The name of the captain figured a little
further on in these Luxurious pages. Hic
second in command had taken up the pen
and had passed it, in his turn to d survivor.
The last marginal note read thus:
but four of us are left: Molis Stoke, OF
HARLEM, sailor; Dirk Hooft, called the
Spreker, of Medenblik, sailor; Heymann
Jaarsveldt, of EIburg, our ship-boy, and
myself, Alberdingk Euijdecoper, of Rotter
dam, chief cook. We have no longer the
strength to assist each other. Something
horrible may possibly happen-what if the
white bears which are proWling around the
shin should come on board and devour us
alive?"
Poor men p thought Yegor, as he closed
the Bible THAT is probably what took
place."
Already M, Lafleur was searching every.
where. From time to time, while Yegor was
running over the margins of the Bible, he
cried
Lard = Biscuit -ruml = concentrated
milk fifty boxes of it! The preserved
meat has been eaten by the bears Twenty
pots of pemmican !-sugarl Oh!-hour !
bottles of red wine and box of candles
intact More biscuitl-a cask full! A pack
age of vermiceli! Chocolate - twenty
pounds at least! But what havoc! The
foxes have aided the bears! Green beans il
boxes Sardines in oil |"
''WeI, my dear friend" said Yegor to
him, ''let us bundle up some of these things
and carry them away. We will carefully
close the scuttles."
''What if we should not find the whalel
again."
''Oh! the sea is as solid as rock But
let us load ourselves with as much as GU!
strength viii permit"
ST see some matches"
''Take them They will replace those
stolen from US the other day by the Tch
ouktchis"
''There is some charcoal"
'We can do without that. Give preference
to those articles which will restore the
strength of Nadege and her brother"
Two hours afterwards, Yegor and the
Partisan, bending beneath their loads, were
bearing to the hut the first installment OF
what they had found. NJ. Latleur had
wished to take the organ, claiming that q
little music would cheer the party up; Lad
islas would turn the handle and he would
accompany him on his pocket violin. Yegol
had some trouble to dissuade him from it:
as to himself, he bore away the Bible.
They reached the hut, enjoying in ad
vance the happiness they We're about tc
cause.
I'VE shall see," observed NJ Lafieur. al
Yermac will turn up his nose at the milk
and sugar, the sardines in oil and the sailed
lard"
The two dogs preceded them
Yegor was surprised at not seeing Wat
come to meet him. A presentimcnt of evil
stole upon him. He laid all he was CARRYING
on the ice and ran towards the hut, calline
Nadege and Ladislas.
AT last he entered the hut 1t was emp
ty Nadege, Ladislas, and Yermac were
nowhere to be seen. The fire had long since
died out. Marks of struggle were every
where.
NJ Latleur reioined him. He found hin
in dismay.
"What does all this mean?"
Il do not know-I cannot understand il
My reason totters-and feel as if l wer
going to die!n
Where could they have gomez"
Il cannot imagine; but [ am convinced
that terrible mis- fortune has happened
Look, Monsieur Latleur-the table is over
turned, the furs are scattered and soiled
and there are ashes as far as the door. The.
have taken one of our guns
And also my harpoon," said the Partisan
Gould 1ermac have made stroke in hi!
peculiar fashion2"
''What stroke could he have made!" ask
ed Yegor, dreading to hear his friends re-
ply.