The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-21

once; what would happen in that case ?
Grow younger all the while, wouldn't
he?"
81 grope," I said. "The way grows
dark. l see what you are driving at
But, Captain Fitch, 1 have known
figures to lie; does astronomy lie, too?
He laughed. "Come and see, " he said
rising from the chair. 81 am going to
start back to day, for l promised to get
back there by Christmas.
How l ever came to agree to a proposal
that seemed at first so preposterous is diff
cult to explain; but the fact is that l fol-
lowed him out to the gate with my straw
hat and duster on, and started upon the
uncanny excursion.
"You can tog up when you get there, I"
he said
Before we reached the Attic Circle it
began to grow dark and cold, and we ex-
changed the attire of low ATTITUDES for
the conventional fur bags of the Eskimo,
which we found very snug and comfort
able. At the Point Barrow hut lat
20 degrees, where Fitche had some
times made his headquarters, he found
an acquaintance - an Eskimo. After
greeting him heartily, he said to me:
"This is my man Su-Kuok. In knowledge
of the region we We're going through he
is King of the North. Let's 90 right
aboard Su"
An ready" answered the native.
We walked down to the shore of the
Attic Ocean. There the Eskimo cast
off at once, moved n lever at his side, and
the little boat wheeled round and set her
nose from the land. Noting the absence
of sails and oars, | asked what made us
move.
Electric engine,' said Fitch. at is
tucked away down in the how. / had
been to Washington for patent when |
met you. | don't have to burn coal.
obtain my electricity in inexhaustible
quantities from the original fountain.
The universe is full of unappropriated
power"
SO we forged ahead. We spent the
first four days lodging icebcrgs. At
length | noticed an angry shore ahead,
against which the waters dashed and
rOared. | was terrified to observe that
our speed was in no wise diminished.
At this point the ice met the water in a
very gentle slope, and, while | was con-
sdering what we should do next the re-
markable craft, seeming to catch hold of
the icy shore, as If with claws, climbed
to the top like an overgrown goat. We
did not pause on gaining the summit OF
the ice field, but rushed on with speed
which was even increased; and | now
observed that we were ON wheels Our
progress was the more surprising be-
cause the ice was uneven, and in places
broken into crevices four or five feet
across.
''You see we carry our own track, said
my companion.
Slight investigation revealed the secret.
Around this boat wagon, endwise, parallel
with the guides ran two continuous bands
of iron hinged together in sections. That
part of the bands at any moment beneath
the vehicle formed two tolerably steady
rails on which the wheels ran, and as we
moved forward that part which was behind
was lifted up by an automatic cam and
and carried forward over our heads, drop
ping again in front of the wheels, thus
making an endless track.
As we advanced and the days grew
darker and the weather colder, my atten
ton was invited to sheet-iron panel set
in the bow. This | found radated at a
high degree of heat.
'Cosmical electricity said Fitch.
"Transmutation of forces What's the use
of freezing?'
We were something over two months on
the way, but one morning was awakened
by Su kuok's electric whistle tearing away
like mad. say lone morning conven-
tionally, merely because it was the end of
one of our daily sleeps. 1t was dusky twi-
light. We had not seen the sun since Sep
TENDER, and just managed to keep live
my faith that it was rolling around the
ealt tn somewhere below the horizon of
faintish pink. AS we suddenly came to a
stop looked out of the cabin widow and
through the semi. darkness saw that we
were moored in the suburbs of what seemed
to be populous village. There were sew
eral carriages like ours, and snow villas and
ice palaces in every direction. The stars
were all out, and we stood under the little
dimper.
"Yonder is the pole," said Captain
Fitch, pointing to an upright post about
IS feet high, bearing what seemed to be a
sun at its peak, and moons upon its side
"By the way" he continued, 81 happen
to know that you have not kept an accurate
run of the days during the coming on of
darkness, so you will perhaps be surprised
to hear that this is Christmas Day.
81 see that the citizens of Polopolis are
in the midst of their customary festival.
Notice the luminaries on the Pole. and the
stars, crescents, hearts, and other symbols