The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-02-12
THE EXILES.s
TRUSSIAN STORY.
CHAPTER xxIx-THE ICE-BoUND SHIP And IT'S
SKELETON CREW.

that NJ. Iafleur 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 solidifed 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 affair
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 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 NJ Lafeur, who at
that moment rejofned 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 tho hues Of mora
ing. But the deck, Jne masJs, Une 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 a gigantic geWgaW OF
spun glass.
The first movement Of Yegor and M. LAT
leurr 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 its ribs was that Of the fish
ing vessels which face the dangers Of the
navigation of the polar seas. The dogs
parked They silenced them.
After half minutes attention, M. Laf-
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.
eve are observed" said M. Lafeur.
wait little, my friend" answered
Yegor, who saw the dogs with their hair
standing on end; and with the words, aim
inc his gun, he fired at the so-called look
out.
"What are you doing?" cried M. Lafeur,
alarmed.
Il 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.
ut is a bear!" cried the Partisan, sand
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
consraint 1T is, perhaps, the phantom
ship of the legends"
ssThose legends are laughed at on the
banks of the Seine observed the Paris
ian. '.F7or US, this enormous bulk Of wood
IS nothing else, to all appearances, than the
den Of a bear-some ship abandoned by its
crew"
Very likely, said Yegor, ss'and 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. Lafeur, lit is
upon territory to which we have much
better right"
1.-The least we can do is to dislodge it,"
said Yegor
The bear had disappeared. It 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 1T
as a Dutch Whaler.
Soon they reached the round sides Of the
ship. They hailed-no one answered.
Evidently there is not q living soul on
board" said Yegor,
Otherwise, we would have to believe
that the bear was tame" observed NJ. laf-
Ieur
They climbed upon the deck. leaving their
dogs on the ice, and there Q horrible spccta-
Gle presented itself to their gaze,
Five men-five skeletons clad in sailors
garments were stretched upon the deck,
amid objects and wrecks of all sorts.
poor fellows !" cried Yegor.
Ia their horror, they forgot tho bear.
Nevertheless, the sound CT steps was heard
below.
'.Atteniion,n cried II. Laaour. ''That
must be the bear"
TIE dogs continued to bark as i to keep
them on The lookout.
At this monoat the white hoad Of a bear
appeared "a olse Of tho ha5ehWays with Its
pointed n2azz O. It's ope0 and 1aon2cing mouth
and It's ferocioUs looking rod eyes
Yegor, .-ithout loss OF timo, ledge Q ball
IN the animal's neck. AIo1tally wounded,
it bounded with rage towards its assailanb.
M. L4afaur fred in his tnrn bat no hit the
bear en- The eal, and the creature paid no
attention to sUeh a tri1e.
Ye-or. on seeing it advance towards him,
endeagarod TO satoa @ hatehet that lay
With roach of his bana; be seized i'll but
tho hatehot Yves sol5area to the deck by
the ice and resisted eveTy eEort to lo0s-
en- 1t. Al would have been ever witch
Yeror. if the Partisan, qUielT sprinfing
forward tao 1uts of his gun IL the air,, lad
nos 6eal5 peca the anilual's bead So tezTi6le
q blow tlat tiAa weapon broke. Tie animal,
little Disconnected only, Was hesitating
between III LaaUr and Yego whom tie
latter. who had succeeded ii dLsengaa
the hafshet lifted it as Eiuh as he could