The Van Buren press., 1896-11-14


upon the table, and at u noon took a
sextant observation, and determined
the latitude 10 be CT degrees 20 minutes
north, while the river which ran be-
meath I concluded 10 be the Mackenzie
river. in longitude I21 degrees 20 min
ufes west. The variation of the COM
pass had increased since leaving Cali
fornia; but, by consulting my tables OF
magnetic variation and DETECTION. I
was enabled 10 frame an approximate
northerly course; and determined note.
as there were no more mountain ranges
10 cross, to keep as closely rs | could
to the 12lst meridian.
After passing Great Bear lake, no ex-
animation Of the chart was necessary TO
tell as that we had entered the Arenc
circle. The biting breeze from the
east. and the sun which. though skirt
| ing the horizon, seemed never 10 ap-
proach il, were sufficient TO acquaint
ns with this fact. The air Of the cabin.
excepting in the immediate region Of
the stove. was keen and bitter in the
extreme. Auchincloss' business. ex-
eept that OF oiling the machinery. hax-
ing been found TO be sineeure. with
such regularity did all portions do their
work, be had. half an hour previously.
come into the cabin. and was engaged
IN cooking some food for dinner:
previous 10 doing which he had eoa-
verified two Of the buffalo robes znd
blankets into very rough leggings with
the aid Of a brad-awl and some leather
laees- At 5:ls. while engaged IN tax
ing hasty meal. with the welcome al
dition Of hot grOg. one of Us eating
= lille the other attended to the eharE-
ing OF the condenser, deserted IN IN
broken line of water, and in few min
utes we were flying over the Arctic
ocean. At g. IS, we again deserted land.
which reference TO the map showed
me must be Barring island. An hours
passage brought us again TO an open
sea. which examination proved TO be
Banks strait. At five p. m. we again
reached a line of coast. which l pre-
slimed to be Prince Patrick's island.
and accordingly knew that we had
reached the nth parallel of la,-
tude, or less than 600 miles from the
pole, having actually trayersed the Dis
tance OF $500 miles in a little over Il
hours
As it was not my object to approach
the region of the pole until nearly mid
night, when / could take an obserra-
ton to determine its true location. I
resolved if possible to find some Es-
kimo village where we could obtain
suitable wraps 10 continue our voy-
age. since neither of US now
dared to leave the vicinity OF
the stove for more than a minute or
two at time, or without quickening
the circulation of the blood with copi-
Gus draughts of spirits. This latter
seer4ed to be wholly appropriated By
the txtremities and external portions
of tie body without being conveyed to
the brain.
W. now slackened our speed and rose
more extended view through my binoc-
u1ar of the region beneath me, and if
possible catch sight of an EskiIso VII
lage. ] was able to sweep circle of
some ten miles radius, and. after go
ing over some 20 miles OF territory, |
deserted on the horizon what ! thought
we wanted. Again turning on our pro-
pelling power, a run of a few minutes
brought us over the place, which proved
TO be a settlement of some 80 huts. so
we proceeded to drop down upon them
at few yards distance. When we got
to within 500 or 600 feet we had evident
ly attracted their attention. Each pig
my hut poured out two or three deni-
zens of every age and size. They looked
at MS for several moments motionless
with amazement, then suddenly dis
persed, some running to their sledges
and dogs, which they proceeded to har-
ness with every sign of alacrity, others
taking refuge within their huts, but
not one staying to look further at the
strange visitors. We descended very
gradually, and at length alighted quiet
~ on the ground. We next got out and |
walked about TO show that we were
men; and Auchincloss, who had brought |
out n bottle of brandy and a tumbler.
held them out and beckoned to one
pigmy who was peering from the door
of his hut. This individual must at
some previous time have become ac-
quainted with the merits of strangers
and black bottles, for, under the infu- |
ance of the continued signs of Auchin- |
Gloss, he at length approached and re-
4. IL.
he swallowed with evident relish. 1t |
acted like magic. lie called to his kins-
folk, who reappeared as speedily as
they had previously vanished, and |
while Auehincloss administered the re-
mains Of the bottle, ! went to the yes
sci and returned with a demijohn. /
During the hilarity which ensued, ] |
made them understand by signs that ! |
would give a demijohn of spirits and |
dozen plugs of tobacco for two suits OF |
furs. The suits were brought, the de-
sired exchange was made, and we were |
again ascending into mid-air, amid the 1
idmirinC glances of the Eslsimos, ten |
minutes after alighting among them.
Leaving Prince Patrick's island, we
rhortly passed into the unknown sea.
\ reference to the chart showed me
hat explorers, though penetrating fur
her TO the north IN more easterly /
had left the geography Of the
'arth a terra incognita. We were now.
q fact, breaking upon the isothesmal
ine which passes through the twin
5Oits Of intensest cold, and which runs