Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-08

nouncing on such an important matter.
wish to ask a question"
ASK ii, then, Johnson"
you went out yesterday TO ascertain
our exact position; well. is the 1eld drift
ing or stationary"
Perfectly stationary. It had not moved
since the last reckoning was made.
discussion opened at once about
what to do. Hatteras wanted still to try
to reach the pole, as retreat seemed
equally impossible.
I'VE may find rich hunting grounds"
he urged. I'VE know the route back Is
barren"
The other three wouldn't listen to such
a proposal and Hatteras was declaring
he would start for the pole alone, when
he felt light touch on his arm. II was
Altamont, the American, who had crawl
ed out of bed and managed to get on his
knees He was trying to speak. but his
swollen lips could scarcely make sound.
Hatteras went towards him, and watched
him so attentively that in a few min
utes he made out a word that sounded
like Porpoise. STOPPING over him he
asked; -
us it the Porpoise?"
AItamont made a sign in the affirm
alive, and Hatteras went on with his
queries. now that he had found elew.
I'm these seasY'
The affirmative gesture was repeated
'Is she in the north?"
Yes"
do you know her positionr"
Yes"
"Exactly?"
Yes
For a minute or so nothing more was
said, and the onlookers waited with pail
plating hearts.
Then Hatteras spoke again.
Listen to me- We must know the
exact position OF our vessel. j will
count the degrees aloud. and you will
stop me when come to the right one"
The American assented by motion or
the head, and Hatteras began:
Wen take the longitude first One
hundred and five degrees? No? One
hundred and six degrees-IO7 degreesI
1t is to the west, 1 suppose?"
Yes" replied Altamont.
Let US go on, then: 100 degrees, ITO
degrees. 112 degrees, ia degrees, Ito
degrees. us degrees, 120 degrees"
YES" interrupted the sick man.
''One hundred and twenty degrees OF
longitude, and how many minutes? 1
will count"
Hatteras began at No. l, and when
he got to is. Altamont made sign to
stop.
very good" said Hatteras;" now Tor
the latitude. Are you listening? Eigh-
ty degrees, 81 degrees, 81 degrees. 80
degrees"
Again the sign to stop was made.
Now for the minutes: Five minucs,
10 minutes. is minutes. 20 minutes, rs
minutes, 80 minutes. 35 minutes"
-Altamont stopped him once more. and
smiled feebly.
You say, then, that the Porpoise Is
IN, Io,, IA I10 daCroaa I rnfptffnG ann.
latitude SO degrees and IS minHtes?"
YES" sighed the American, and fell
back motionless in the doctors arms,
completely overpowered by the effort he
had made.
"k'riendsP' exclaimed Hatteras; you
see 1 was right. Our salvation lies in
deed in the north. always in the north.
We shall be saved!'
But the joyous, exulting words had
hardly escaped his lips before sudden
thought made has countenance change.
The serpent OF JeaIousy had stung
him, for his stranger was an American,
and he had reached three degrees nearer
the pole than the Inflated Forward.
BY further patient questioning after
I rest, the doctor soon ascertained that
The Porpoise was a three-mast Ameri-
can snip, from New York. wrecked on :
the ice. with provisions and combusti-
bles in abundance on board.
Altamont and his crew had left. her two
months previously, taking the long boat
with them on a sledge. They intended
to get to Smiths sound and reach some
whaIer that would take them bacK to
America; but one after another sue
cumbed to fatigue and illness, till only
AItamout remained alive
why had the Porpoise come so far
north?" Hatteras asked.
"She was irresistibly driven there by
the Ice" Altamont replied, reebly
Hatteras looked grim but said nothing
more
Well" said the doctor. 'it strikes me
that, instead of trying to get to Baffins
bay. our best plan would be to go in
search of the Porpoise. It's a third
nearer. and stocKed with everything
necessary for winter quarters"
81 see no other course open to US"
replied Hatteras.
'If we start tomorrow" said the doc
tor. I'VE must reach the Porpoise by the
fifteenth of March. unless we mean to die
of starvation"
No time was lost in getting ready tc
start couch was laid on the sledge
for the American. The provisions dir
not add much weight. and the wood was
piled up on top
Continued in Next Issua.