The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-07

they managed to get up and drag
themselves after Altamont to-
wards the place he indicated.
They soon arrived at a narrow
part at the bottom of a ravine,
and that a spectacle met their
gaze! Dead bodies, already stiff,
lay half buried in a winding sheet
of snow. A leg visible here, an
arm there, and yonder shrunken
hands and rigid faces, stamped
with the expression of rage and
despair.
The doctor stopped down to
look at them more closely, but in
stantly started back pale and agi-
tated, while Duke barked omi-
nously.
Horrible, horrible!" he said.
"What is it?" asked Johnson.
Don't you recognize them?"
''What do you mean?"
Look and see!"
1t was evident this ravine had
been but recently the scene of a
fearful struggle, that the poor
wretches had been feeding on hui
man flesh, perhaps while still
warm. And among them the
doctor recognized Shandon, Pen
and others of the Inflated crew of
the Forward!
Their strength had failed; pro-
visions had come to an end; their
boat had been broken, perhaps by
an avalanche or ingulfed in some
abyss, so that they could not take
advantage of the open sea, or per-
haps they had lost their way in
wandering over these unknown
continents.
Come away! come awayI''
cried the doctor, dragging his
companions from the scene. Hor-
ror gave them momentary
strength, and they resumed their
march without stopping a minute
longer.
Even the men themselves were
never able to give any detailed
narrative of the events which oc-
Cured during the next week.
However, on the 9th of Septem-
Der, by superhuman exertions,
they arrived at last at Cape Hors-
burg, the extreme point of North
Devon.
They were absolutely starving.
For 4S hours they had tasted
nothing, and their last meal had
been off the flesh of their last
Eskimo dog. Bell could go nc
farther, and Johnson felt himself
dying.
They were on the shore of Baf-
fins bay, now half frozen over;
that is to say, on the road to
Europe, and three miles off the
waves were dashing noiselessly on
the sharp edges of the ice-field.
Here they must wait their
chance of a whaler appearing
and for how long?
But heaven pitied the poor fell
lows, for the very next day Alta
mont perceived a sail on the hori-
zon.
i Everyone knows the torturine
suspense that follows such an ap-
pearance, and the agonizing dread
lest it should prove a false hope
The vessel seems alternately to
approach and recede, and too of.
ten, just at the very moment
when the poor castaways think
they are saved, the sail begins te
disappear. and is soon out oil
sight.
| The doctor and his companions
went through all these expert.
ences. They had succeeded in
reaching the western boundary OF
the ice-field by carrying and
pushing each other along, an6
they watched the ship gradually
fade away from view without OBJ.
serving them, in spite of theii
loud cries for help.
| Just then a happy inspiration
came to the doctor. His fertile
genius, which had served him
many time in such good stead
Supplied him with one last idea
| A floe, driven by the current
lstruck against the ice-field, and
lClawbonny exclaimed, pointing to
lit:
This floei"
His companions could not un-
lerstand what he meant.
| Let us embark ON 1t! let us
embark on i'll"
| ooh! Mr.. Clawbonny, Mr.. Claw,
bonny," said Johnson, pressing his
hand.
| Bell, assisted by Altamont, hur.
ried to the sledge. and brought
back one of the poles. which he
stuck fast on the ice like a mast
md fastened 1t with ropes. The
tent was torn up to furnish sail
and as soon as the frail raft wal
ready the poor fellows jumped
upon it, and sailed out to the opeI
lsea.
Two hours later the survivors