The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-04-25

of the final cause of this hazardous ad-
venture, and of the chances and prOba-
bilities of its terminatiOn-a termina-
tion which, if successful, the limit of its
could not be by any method
of human calculation accurately COM
puted-the discovery of the South
Pole.
had convinced myself that, if aerial
once be perfected, those re-
gions embraced within the Antarctic |
circle could be explored with as much
impunity as those lying in the North
ern Seas. And in our limited knowl- |
edge of these antipodes what evidence
have we that would cause us to believe
that the latter offers superior induce
ments against the formerp All specu-
lations of this nature were destined to
an abrupt ending, as was made to
suddenly realize that the hitherto
peaceful elements had, as if by magic,
become possessed with a violent and
threatening activity. The entire at
mosphere was being Overrun, so to
speak, with hugh, ominous clouds which
were tumbling over and around each
other in disorder so wild and insane
as to give berth to the belief that all
the furies of the neither regions had
been released and were arrayed each
against the other in conflict so fierce
and diabolical that Satan himself must
be furnishing the inspiration.
Ina seconds time we were completely
engulfed in the awful confusion. Vivid
lightning played such startling pranks
that 1t seemed, indeed, to be the very
Devils own pyrotechnical display.
The air was surcharged with vapor
or gas that was peculiarly obnoxious
and very oppressive to the senses. l
was seized with d stupor that wss
quickly and completely overpowering
me. I made desperate effort to shake
off this frightful influence, but all in
vain, and in my last conscious moment,
prior to a catastrophe that now be-
lieved to be inevitable, 1 did that which
precipitated the very thing wished to
avoid, namely: in attempting to close
the high-pressure valve and reduce the
speed l directed all my energy and
weight against it with such force that
the lever was driven beyond the safety
notch, and coming in contact with 9
substantial bulkhead was broken, leav
ing me powerless to even partly oper
, it and abate the downward speed thai
/: was now, all too fast, sinking us below
, the angry elements. Down, down, ev
er down, we went with meteoric swift
ness that seemed to be an age. A low
whine from Prince; terrible crash
q oblivion.
s On returning consciousness 1 opene'
/ my eyes and beheld, not wild ant
i desolate land with towering peaks AM
:. sun-scorched shores, but country s.
: magnificent and grand, filled with
Q bounteous plenty of natures best Offer
lings, that, for the nonce, was temple
8 to yield to the half born belief that
IS had, in some miraculous manner, ur
b observed by good st. Peter, sailed thr
l. the shining portals of the heavenl
t; city. Not long, however, was I to b
1; permitted to enjoy, uninterrupted,
s. this beautiful delusion, for at this mt
a ment Prince, crouched at my feet, CAV
10 short, sharp bark, followed by a dee
growl, which I rightly Interpreted as
r warning to some intruder. Slight
y turning my head and following wit
my eyes the direction his gaze indicate
" saw, at a few yards distant, ma
% whom, from all visible signs might
ID readily taken for patriarch of tn
as wonderful country. His age apparen
willy, that of one who had long sin
in passed the meridian of life, still bore
n look of surprisingly youthful FRESHNESS
If a face benevolent in expression, adorn'
oe by long, flowing, silvery beard, whi
IT. added majesty to his dignified and alt
it. gether stately bearing.
nd A faint sense of sickness stole ov
n me as I again began to think that
r. had entered into the holy realm 81
ng this man, now so near, was the keep
az of that sacred gate and was coming
ng thrust me out. This fear was alme
slf instantly dispelled. not BY outward