Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-22
CHAPTER Ky.

when | questioned him, and gave a plain
''Yes" or NO" to any demand.
It must have been on the fourth day
after my capture that the nameless ship,
which hitherto Lad not been speeding at
an abnormal pace, began to go very fast.
Finally, by the consciousness that the
ship had stopped, and that there was
muca agitation on deck, | looked from
my window and observed the cause of the
confusion, for there, ahead of US a mile
or more, was one Of the largest icebergs
/ have ever seen | watched ntently, hop
ing to see other bergs that should tell me
how far we had gone towards the North,
but the night fell suddenly. | had no
tion that Captain Black was running to
hiding; and his hiding place lay to the
north, far above the course even of Cana
dian-bound vessels.
The time passed, the weather growing
colder day by day, the bergs more fire.
quent about my windows; until on the
evening of the seventh day the ship stop
ped suddenly. The work of mooring was
not long one. On the next morning | got
up al daybreak, and looked eagerly from
my spying place but ! could discern only
a blank cliff of rock, the ship being now
moored against the very side of it. The
negro brought a note with my breakfast;
and read an invitation to dine with
Captain Black that evening. l welcomed
the prospect of change, when the old man
threw open the door and said The Mas
ter waits :"
He led the way up the companion lad
der. which was, in fact, q broad staircase,
deliberately lit with the electric light; and
SO brought me TO the deck, where there
was darkness save in one spot above the
fore-turret. There a lantern threw great
volume OF white light which spread out
upon the sea- and showed me at once that
we were in Il cove of some breadth, sur
rounded by prodigiously high cliffs; and
the light being focused straight across the
bay, disclosed a cleft in these rocks lead
ing apparently 70 a further cove beyond.
/ had scarce time to get other than
rough idea Of The whole situation, for
boat was waiting at the gangway. The
men gave way at once keeping in the
course of the searchlight, and rowing
straight to the cleft in the cliffs, through
which they passed and so left the light
and entered narrower fjord. This sec
ond cove opened after a while into
lake. above wn2se shores | observed many
twinklng lights, which seemed to come
from windows far up the face of the cliff.
There was rough landing stage, cut in
the rock, and an iron stairway led thence
to the chambers which evidently existed
above.
When we had come to shore, and had
been received there by several men who
held lanterns, the negro pointed to the
iron stairway and told me to mount; he
following me to the summit, where there
was a platform and an iron door. The
door opened as we arrived before it, and
there standing by it l found the young
doctor.
Come in" he said, they're waiting
for YOU
We were in a broad passage lit by the
electric light-a passage cut in a crystal
like rock. whose surface had almost the
lustre of a mirror. The passage led up
to n second door-this one built of fine
American walnut; and we passed through
il at once into q room where | was as
founded to see indisputable evidence of
civilization and of refinement. The whole
chamber was hung round with superb
skins, the white fur of the polar bear pre-
dominating; but there were couches cush-
toned with deep brown seal; and the same
glossy skin was laid upon the floor in
SO many layers that the football was
noiselcss and pleasantly luxurant. The
furniture otherwise was both modern and
artistic.
The room had a solitary occupant. One
glance assured ME that l was face to face
with Captain Black-the Captain Black l
had seen in Paris; but yet not the same.
for all the bravado and rough speech
which which then fell from his lips was
wanting. When he stepped forward and
held out his hand to me, | had the mind
almost To draw back from him. for
knew that the man had crime heavy upon
him: but second thought convinced me
of the folly of making a scene at such a
moment: so | took the great hard hand
and looked him full in the face
4 am glad to see you" said he: din
ner waits us" and with that we passed
into another chamber containing n dining
table laid for four persons in very ele-
CANT manner. The only servant was a
giant black. and the guests of the Cap
tain were the young doctor, the Scotsman
known as Dick the Ranter, and myself.
The captain made no attempt to CON
ceal information from me. The first oc-
casion of his speaking during dinner was
in answer to a remark of mine that 1
found the room very pleasantly warm
YES" he said. you must feel the
change. You know where you are, of
course. This is the west coast of Green
land, and there is a Danish settlement not
fifty miles from you-although we don't
leave cards on our neighbors Well, |
won't have you hurried, and you're my
guest until l put a certain straight ques-
tion TO you. When that happens you
won't think twice about the answer"
This pleasant party must dispense. "
he said to me later; you can go to the
quarters we have provided for you, unless
you would like to see more of u.s."
Il should like to see everything you
can show me-" 1 replied. being afams
with curiosity to know all that the strange
situation could teach me: and then he
made motion for the others to follow
and we passed from the room.
The way from the dining room was
through long passage lighted with arc
lamps at intervals, and having the doors
of many rooms on the right-hand side
of il. Several of these doors were omen
and | saw the interiors of well-furnishet
bedrooms of smaller sitting rooms, anC
of beautifully furnished billiard room
At the end Of the passage we descended {
flight of stairs to another landing. Thi:
proved the way to a small stretch Of
beach, and here l found several substan
tial buildings of stone, evidently for the
use of Blacks company. The largest o.
the houses seemed to be 4 kind of hall
we'll lighted by arc lamps. Into this WI
passed, lifting a heavy curtain of skins
and seated there. on all sorts of rougl
lounges and benches were the men | ha'
seen in Paris, with fifty or sixty others
no less ferocious looking.
Men" said Black, II want to tell yo'
that we've got a stranger with us: bu
he's here to stay, and he's my charge.
HAS he jined?" asked a bleareyet
man. who had eyed me with much curios
ity. but the captain answered:
That's my affair, and you keep you
tongue still if You don't want me TO Gu
1t out. he'll join us byand-by."