The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-09-20
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go BY JULES WERNEsG xTSeAM

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Eyes," sighed the American,
and fell back motionless in the
doctors arms, completely over
powered by the effort he had
made.
| ''Friends!" exclaimed Hatteras
you see was right. Our saliva
ton lies indeed in the north, al
ways in the north. We shall be
lsaved!"
But the joyous, exulting words
had hardly escaped his lips before
a sudden thought made his coun-
tenance change.
The serpent of jealousy had
stung him, for this stranger was
an American, and he had reached
three degrees nearer the pole
than the Inflated Forward.
BY further patient question
after a rest, the doctor soon as
certained that the Porpoise was a
three-mast American ship, from
New York, wrecked on the ice,
with provisions and combustibles
in abundance on board.
Altamont and his crew had left
her two months previously, TAX
ing the long boat with them on a
sledge. They intended to get to
Smiths sound and reach some
whaler that would take them back
to America; but one after anoth-
er succumbed to fatigue and ILL
ness, till only Altamont remained
alive.
why had the Porpoise come so
far north?" Hatteras asked.
"She was irresistibly driven
there by the ice," Altamont re-
piled, feebly. g
Hatteras looked grim, but baid
nothing more.
WELL said the doctor, cit
strikes me that, instead of trying
to get to Bafffns bay, our I, best
plan would be to go In search of
the Porpoise. It's third near
err, and stocked with everything
necessary for winter quartersf'
II see no other course open to
u.s." replied Hatteras.
'If we start tomorrow" said the
doctor, I'VE must reach the For
poise by the fifteenth of March,
unless we mean to die of starva-
ton.
No time was lost in getting
ready to start. A couch was laid
on the sledge for the American.
The provisions did not add much
weight, and the wood was piled
up on top.
| The doctor calculated with
three-quarter rations to each man
and full rations to the dogs, they
might hold out for three weeks.
BY three in the afternoon ev-
erything was ready for the start.
1t was almost dark, for,
though the sun had reappeared
above the horizon since the thirty
first of January, its light was
feeble and of short duration. The
moon would rise about half-past
six.
The days wore on. Progress
was slow. Binding snow storms
held them back. Moreover, the
men, in spite of their iron will.
began to show signs of fatigue.
Hats became more frequent, and
yet every hour was precious, for
the provisions were rapidly COM
ing to an end.
On the 14th of March, after 16
days march, the little party
found themselves only yet In the
leighty-second Latitude. Their
strength was exhausted, and they
had hundred miles more to go.
Rations had to be still further
reduced. Each man must be
content with a fourth part, to
allow the dogs their full guam
| tity.
Worst of all, there were only
seven charges of powder left.
and six balls.
A little game was shot, but
Iquickly devoured. The weary men
could hardly drag themselves
along by now. The dogs had be-
gun to gnaw their traces.
Their last meal, on the Sunday
evening, was a very sad one-un-
less help came, their doom vas
sealed. ~
The next morning Johnson saw
a bear of huge dimensions. The
old sailor took II into his head
that heaven had sent this bear
specially for him to kill; and
without waking his comrades, he
seized the Doctors gun, and was
soon in pursuit. %
On reaching the right distance
he took aimj but, just as his fin
ger touched the trigger, he felt
his arm tremble. His thick gloves
hampered him, he threw them off.
But what cry of agony escaped
himl The skin of his fingers
stuck to the gun as II 1t had been
red-hot, and he was forced to let