Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-12-24

cept that of oiling the machinery. hav'
! ing b4en found to be a sinecure, with
such regularity did all portions do their
work, he had, half an hour previously
come into the cabin. and was engaged
in cooking some food for dinner;
previous to doing which he had con-
yerted two of the buffalo robes and
blankets into very rough leggings with
the aid of brad-awl and some leather
laces. At 3:15, while engaged in TAX
ing hasty meal. with the welcome adj
dition of hot grog, one of us eating
while the other attended to the charg-
ing of the condenser. ] deserted an UNI
broken line of water, and in a few min
utes we were flying over the Arctic
ocean. At 8: IS. we again deserted lana,
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 | pre-
sumed to be Prince Patrick's island,
and accordingly knew that we had
reached the nth parallel of lati-
tude, or less than 900 miles from the
pole, having actually traversed the dis
lance OF $500 miles in little over ~
hoursi
As it was not my object TO approach
the region of the pole until nearly mid
night, when | could take an observa-
ton to determine its true location, /
resolved if possible to find some Es-
kimo village where we could obtain
suitable wraps to 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 a time, or without quickening
the circulation of the blood with copi-
Gus draughts of spirits. This latter
seemed TO be wholly appropriated by
the extremities and external portions
of the body without being conveyed to
the brain.
We now slacRened our speed and rose
into the air, so that might have
more extended view through my binoc-
ular of the region beneath me, and If
possible catch sight of an Eskimo viii
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 few minutes
brought us over the place. which proved
to be settlement of some 30 huts, so
we proceeded to drop down upon them
at few yards distance. When we cot
to within 500 or 600 feet we had evident
" attracted their attention. Each pig
my hut poured out two or three deni-
lens of every age and size. They looked
At us 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
and at length alighted quiet
y on the ground. We next got out and
walked about to show that we were
men; and Auchincloss. who had brought |
tut bottle of brandy and tumbler,
leld them out and beckoned TO one |
oigmy who was peering from the door
If his hut. This individual must Mt |
some previous time have become ac-
luainted with the merits of strangers
md black bottles, for. under the influ- |
nee of the continued signs of Auchin-
loss, he at length approached and re-
'eived tumhler of the beverage. which |
le swallowed with evident relish. II /
Icted like magic. He called to his kins-
ok, who reappeared as speedily as
hey had previously vanished, and
While Auchincloss administered the re-
mains of the bottle, | went to the YES
ell and returned with demiiohn.
)uring the hilarity which ensued, !
made them understand by signs that !
would give a demijohn of spirits and a
ozen plugs of tobacco for two suits of
urs. The suits were brought, the de-
ired exchange was made, and we were
gain ascending into mid-air, amid the
dmiring glances of the Esl<imos, ten
minutes after alighting among them.
Leaving Prince Patrick's island, we
hortly 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 terra incognita. We were now.
fact, breaking upon the isothermal
ne which passes through the twin
oles of intensest cold, and which runs
! zigzag curve through the north
rnmost regions of America and Sibe-
ia. We kept the stove nearly red hot;
e kept the kettle singing; congratu-
tied ourselves on the acquisition of the
lr robes, lit our Partagas, and took
lrns of five minutes each in the duty
charging the condenser and oiling
lie machinery. We were now running
cross tract of ocean blocked, for the
lost part, with ice, in uncouth, irreg-
II masses, but with here and there
traits of open water, varying from a
Nv hundred yards to a hundred miles
width. The scene was white. drear.
leak, monotonous and chastity; no
egetaticn. and the animal kingdom
ut sparsely represented by an occa-
onal bear or walrus-looking like