The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1899-06-07


easy to right ourselves. The mist lay
SO thick on our hair and clothing that
it formed itself into large drops, so that
we were wet from head to foot.
We appeared to have somehow in
creased in size, looking unnaturally
bulky to each other, so that we took on
the clumsy appearance of Eskimo;
such strange effect had this decep-
tive, solid body of mist.
We had wandered aimlessly for some
time, when the boatsteerer, who, with
his shouldered harpoon, was little in
advance, stopped short with glad ex-
clamation.
'Hurrah!" he cried; whats this?
Boys, we've found her! We're all right
now! Here she is, right before our
noses. Ship ahoy!" he continued hail
ing the fog-covered vessel; take us
aboard, for heavens sake-we're in dis
tress."
A surly fellow put his head over the
rail- but said nothing. Then another
and another head appeared, until there
were nine in all; but although we were
so near them, they had such strange,
dim, supernatural look, as they peered
down at us through the fog, that we had
Interpretations feeling, as if at
last we had found the Flying Dutch
mani"
The fellows looked as if they had
bonnets on, and every head was an ex-
act likeness of every other. They stared
down upon us without saying word,
as if wondering what sort of beings we
were that had come out of the fog.
II tell you we're in Distress persist
ed the boat-steerer. We're ship
wrecked and starving-lost everything
in the ice. There's lot more of us-29
in all. Let us get aboard, won't you?"
Not word came in reply-nothing
but that stupid, silent stare.
what can they mean?" queried Ben;
!''they can't be Yankees; no American
would act in such a way as this; it's
barbarous - they must be pack of
fools. Hold on, though guess we can
make out what craft this is-Tll see."
He passed around to the stern, looked
up and spelled out ''Languedoc-
events-the name told us that much
Eyes, these chaps are French said
Ben, land they can't understand Eng
lish; but then they might say some
thing to us in their own lingo, anyhow.
Hey, you fellows up there!" he con-
tinued, once more hailing the queer
looking crew, ''parlez vous Francois?
1 say, don't you know your own Ian
guage?'
Still no answer, and what was worse,
the heads began to disappear from the
rail, one after another, as if not caring
to notice us further.
"Well, that is COOL" said Ben; "but
I'm going aboard of her, whether they
want me or not. This thing must be
cleared up-so here goes!"
He clambered up the ships side and
looked over, then quickly ducked his
head and came down faster than he had
gone up.
The next moment monStrous white
bear sprang upon the bulwarl1s, hold
ing in one of his big paws the boat
steerer's cap, just missing the wearer's
head.
"Bears!" cried Ben; "the deck is alive
with them, and they are the fellows
that have been looking at us. There
isn't man aboard of her. Why, that
old chap up there wasn't three feet
from me as | looked over. He's got my
cap, and he just grazed my scalp with
sweep of his paw. He struck out like
lightning"
Two other bears followed the first,
evidently excited by what had taken
place, and now there was an ominous
growing. We drew back hurriedly.
Ben, however, would have tried his
harpoon, had we not restrained him
from the dangerous act. The white
monsters were too many for us, and we
could only return to camp as speedily
as possible.
Our shipmates were greatly excited
by our story, and all hands presently
set out with us for the scene of our adj
venture. AS we reached the spot not
an animal was visible, but we had hard
ly mounted the bulwarks when per-
feet stream of big, scrambling paws
came pouring out of the main hatchway
and tumbling over the opposite side of
the ship. There were 10 of them-four
more than we had bargained for-but
our superior force appeared to terrify
them. Ben Maybrook killed one of the
largest; but all the others escaped, and
we were glad to see them go.
An examination of the French whaler
showed that the bears, as our men re-
marked, had been Living high" They
had torn off the main hatch, which per-
haps had not been fastened down, and
having once got into the hold, had
worked with tooth and claw upon the
barrels of provisions which they found
tloa,o TIL tho aantantS al.1.iual Of