The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-02
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: sSBY JULES VERNE. xAsrAGd


minent danger of her sinking, TO
she sped along at frenzied speed
and any sudden collision will
rock or iceberg must have inevi
tably dashed her to pieces.
But not a man on board
counseled prudence. They were
intoxicated with the danger, and
no speed could be quick enough
tc satisfy their longing impatiencs
to reach the unknown.
At last they began evidently tc
near the coast. Strange symp'
toms were manifest in the air; the
fog suddenly rent like curtain
torn by the wind; and fol
an instant, like flash of light.
ming, an immense column of flame
was seen on the horizon.
1.-THE volcano! the volcano!'
was the simultaneous exclamation
But the words had hardly pass
ed their lips before the fantastic
vision had vanished. The wind
suddenly changed to southeast
and drove the ship back again
from the land.
"Confound IT." said Hatteras;
1--WE weren't three miles from the
coast"
However, resistance was impos-
sible. All that could be done was
to keep lacking; but every few
minutes the little sloop would be
thrown on her side, though she
righted herself again Immediately
obedient to the helm.
AS Hatteras stood with dishev.
eled hair, grasping the helm as il
welded to his hand, he seemed the
anlmating soul of the ship.
All at once a fearful sight met
his gaze.
Scarcely 20 yards in front was
great block of ice coming right
towards them, mounting and fall
ing on the stormy pillows, ready
. on the stormy pillows. ready to
overturn at any moment and
crush them in its descent.
But this was not the only dan.
ger that threatened the bold nav.
igators. The iceberg was packed
with white bears, budding close
together, and evidently beside
themselves with terror.
The iceberg made frightfu
lurches, sometimes inclining al
such sharp angle that the ami
mails rolled pell-mell over each
other and set up loud growing
which mingled with the roar OF
the elements made a terrible con
cert.
For a quarter of an hour, which
seemed a whole century, the slooI
sailed on in this formidable com
pany, sometimes a few yards dis
tant and sometimes near enough
to touch. The Greenland dog,
trembled, but Duke was quit,
imperturbable. At last the ice
berg lost ground, and got driver
by the wind farther and farther
away till 1t disappeared in the
fog, only at intervals betrayine
Its presence by the ominous
growls of its passengers.
The storm now burst forth with
redoubled fury. The little bark
was lifted bodily out of the wa.
ter. and whirled round and round
with the most frightfuI rapidity
Mast and sail were torn off, and
went flying away through the
darkness, like some large white
bird. A whirlpool began to form
among the waves, drawing down
the ship gradually by its irresist.
fble suction. Deeper and deeper
she sank, whizzing round at such
tremendous speed that, to the
poor fellows on board, the water
seemed motionless.
All five men stood erect, gag.
Ing at each other in speechless
terror. But suddenly the shi1
rose perpcndicularly, her prov
went above the edge of the vor.
tex, and getting out of the center
OF attraction by her own velocity
she escaped at tangent from the
circumference, and was throw
far beyond, swift as a ball from
cannon't mouth.
Altamont, the doctor, johnson
and Bell were pitched flat on tn,
planks. When they got up, Hat
teras had disappeared!
1t was 2 O'Clock In the morning
For a few seconds they SCENE,
stupefied. and then a cry of HAT
teras!" broke from every lip.
On all sides nothing was visi
BILE but the tempestuous ocean
Duke barked desperately, an
Bell could hardly keep him iron
leapfng into the waves.
Take the helm, Altamont.
said the doctor, land let us tr,
our utmost to find our poor cap
tain,
johnson and Bell seized tn,
oars, and rowed about for NOR,
than an hour; but their search
was vain-Hatteras was lostl
Lost! and so near the pole, Jus
as he had caught sight of tn,
goall
The doctor called. and shouted
and fired signals, and Duke made
pfteous lamentations: but thert