Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-02


ing down the ship gradually by its ire
sistible suction. Deeper and deeper she
ank whizzing round at such tremend-
Gus speed that, to the poor fellows on
board, the water seemed motionless.
All FIVE men stood erect, gazing at each
other In speeches. terror. But suddenly
the ship rose perpendicularly, her PROV
went above the edge of the vortex, and
, getting out of the center of attraction by
her own velocity she escaped at tan
gent from the circumference, and was
thrown far beyond, swift as ball from
lannon's mouth.
Altamont. the doctor, Johnson, and Bell
were pitched fiat on the planks. When
they got up. Hatteras had disappeared.
1t was o'clock in the morning.
For a few seconds they seemed stupe-
fed, and then a cry Of "Hatteras!" broke
from every lip.
On all sides, nothing was visible but the
ltempestuous ocean. Duke barked desper-
ately, and Bell could hardly keep him
from leaping into the waves.
TAKE the helm, Altamont," said the
doctor. land let us try our utmost to IND
I our poor captain"
johnson and Bell seized the oars, and
rowed about for more than an hour; but
their search was vain-Hatteras was lost!
LOST and so near the pole, just as he
had caught sight of the goal!
The doctor called, and shouted, ana
fired signals and Duke made piteous lam
entations: but there was no response.
Clawbonny could bear up no longer; he
buried his head in his hands, and fairly
wept aloud.
At such a distance from the coast it
was impossible Hatteras could reach 1t
alive. without an oar or even so much as
a spar to help him; if ever he touched the
haven of his desire, II would be as a
swollen, mutilated corpse.
I,onker search was useless, and nothing
remained but to resume the route north.
The tempest was dying out, and about 5
in tfAe morning on the 18th of July, the
wind fell, and the sea gradually beca:ne
calm. The sky recovered it's polar clear
ness, and less than three miles away the
land appeared in all it's grandeur.
The new continent was only an island.
or rather a volcano, fixed like light
house on the north pole of the world
The mountain was in full activity,
! pouring out mass of burning stones and
glowing rock At every fresh eruption
there was a convulsive heaving within,
as II some mighty giant were breathing.
High into the air were thrown streams of
lava in impetuous torrents. Serpents or
fire seemed writhing and wriggling
amongst smoking rocks, and in another
the glowing liquid fell in cascades into a
river of fire below, which emptied itself
into the sea, the waters kissing and seeth-
ing like a boiling cauldron.
Apparently there was only one crater to
/ the volcano, out of which the columns or
fire issued. Electricity seemed to have
/ something to do with this magnificent
! panorama
Above the painting flames waved an i'm
| II, cI,aY cloud M smoke red
( at it's base and black at its summit. 1t
rose with Incompatible majesty, and I'M
| rolled in thick volumes.
The sky was ash color TO a great height,
| and it was evident that the darkness that
| had prevailed while the tempest lasted,
| was owing 70 the columns of cinders over
shadowing the sun like a thick curtain.
This enormous rock in the middle of the
sea was 5000 feet high, just about the al
| titude of Hecla.
1t seemed to rise gradually out of the
water as the boat got nearer. There was
no trace of vegetation, indeed there was
no shore; the rock ran straight down to
| the sea.
"Can we landY' said the doctor.
THE wind is carrying us right to II,
said Altamont.
But don't see an inch of land to set
our foot upon"
1T seems so at this distance" said
johnson; 'but we shall be sure to find
some place to run in our boat at and
that is all we want"
Let us go, them said Clawbonny' de-
jectedly.
He had no heart now for anything.
The north pole was indeed before his
eyes, but not the man who had discover
ed 1t.
AS they got nearer the island. which
was not more than eight or ten miles in
circumference, the navigatogs noticed a
tiny ford. Just large enough to harbor
their boat, and made toward it immedi-
ately. They feared their captains dead
body would meet their eyes on the coast,
| and vet IL seemed difficult for a corpse
to lie on it, for there was no shore, and
the sea broke on steep rocks, which were
lowered with cinders above water mark.
At last the little sloop glided gently
into the narrow opening between two
isandbanks just visible above the water,
where she would be safe from the vio-
Hence of the breakers. Before she could
be moored. Duke began bowling and bark
ling again in the most piteous manner.
The doctor tried to calm him by caresses.
but in vain. The faithful beast spran6
/ on shore with a tremendous bound, send
ing a cloud of oinders after him.
| Duke! Duke!' called Clawbonny.
| After the sloop was made fast, they
all got out and went after him. Altamont
was just going to climb to the top of a
pile of stones, when the doctor exclaimed:
| ''Listenr'
Duke was barking vehemently some dts
lance off, but his bark seemed fun OF
grief rather than fury.
| HE has come on the track of some
animal do you think?' asked johnson.
| mo. no." said Clawbonny, shuddering.
His bark is too sorrowful; 1t is thu
dogs tear. He has found the body Of
Hatteras."
All four rushed forward, in spite OF
the binding cinder dust, and came to the
far end of a ford, where they discovered
the dog barking round a corpse wrapped
| in the British flag!
| "Hatteras! HatterasT" cried the doctor.
throwing himself beside the body of his
| friend. But next minute he started up
with an indescribable cry, and shouted,
"Alive! alivep'
''Yesp' said a feeble voice, yes, alive
at the north pole, on Queens island"
"Hurrah for England!' shouted all with
| one accord.
And for Americav" added Clawbonny,
holding. out one hand to Hatteras and
the other TO Altamont.
Duke was not behind with his hurrah,
which was worth quite as much as the
others.
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