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

LeraS 10 try 10 push MS way 10 the NOTIn
Pole, and gain for England the glory
of it's discovery. But he had struggled
for nine months against currents and
tempests., SCATTERING icebergs and break
ing through almost unsurmountable bar
riers.
In an unprecedented winter he had out
distanced all his predecessors and ac-
complished half his task. when he saw
all his hopes blasted. The mutiny or
his WORKOUT crew had left him and his
little band OF three men in a terrible
situation-helpless in an icy desert, $500
miles from their native land-their ship
a wreck. blown up by the mutineers.
However, the courage of Hatteras was
still undaunted. The three men which
were. left him were the best on board
his brig, and while they remained he
might venture to hope.
OF the Forward, the brig they had so
carefully built, not vestige remained.
Shapeless blackened fragments, twisted
bars of iron, cable ends still smoldering,
ana here and there in the distance spiral
wrSaths of smoke-that was all. Books,
instruments and precious collections
were In ashes.
Clawbonny, the surgeon, and Johnson,
the boatswain. surveyed the wreck. Bell,
Captain Hatteras stood apart, arms fold
ed, his faithful dog beside him.
Poor old brig" exclaimed the doctor.
II had grown attached to her. 1 loved
her as one loves a house where he has
spent a lifetime"
"Ay! It's strange what a hold those
Dlanks and beams get on a fellow s
heart" said Johnson.
And the long-boat-is that burnt?
asked the doctor.
THE mutineers carried 1t on"
And the pirogue?'
"Shiyered into a thousand pieces!"
Then we have nothing but the Hal
kett boat?"
Yes, we have that still, thanks to
your idea Of taking it with you"
THAT isn't much" said the doctor.
And we nave a dying one to look
after"
"A dying man?'
Yes, Captain Altamont, an American
navigator, whose ship, the Porpoise, was
stranded somewhere to the north. We
found him half starved ana frozen on
the ice,' said the doctor.
Johnson muttered an exclamation of
pity. But his mind went back at once
to his own desperate situation.
Then we have no fuel whatever"
he said.
mo"
"And no provfsions?"
NO"
And no ship to make our way back to
England?"
1t required courage to face these gloomy
realities After a moments silence, john
son said again:
well, at any rate we know exactly
how we stand. The first thing to be
done now is to make hut, for we can't
stay long exposed to this temperature"
Yes, but we must first revive Bell, =
replied the doctor. Then go and find
the sledge and get the American"
Bell lay on the ice almost inanimate.
Johnson had to take vigorous measures
to rouse him, but at last, by dint Of shak-
ing and rubbing him with snow, he sue
ceeded.
Come, Bell" he cried, don't give way
like this. Exert yourself, my man: We
must have a talk about our situation,
and we need a place to put our heads
in. Come and help me, Bell. You haven I
forgotten how to make a snow hut, have
you? There is an iceberg all ready to
hand; we've only got to hollow II out
Let's set to work; we shall find that is the
best remedy for us"
Bell tried to shake of his torpor and
help his comrade. while DR.. Clawbonny
undertook to go and fetch the sledge and
the dogs.
Twill you go with him. captain?" asked
Johnson.
mo, my friend" said Hatteras. in a
gentle tone, IF the doctor will kindly I'M
dertake the task Before the day ends
must come to some resolution, and need
to be alone to think. Go. Do meantime
whatever you think best. I will deal with
the future
johnson went back to the doctor and
said:
IT'S very strange. but the captain
seems quite to have got over his anger.
never heard him speak so gently be-
fore"
$50 much the better" said Clawbonny.
believe me, Johnson, that man can save
us yet"
And drawing his hood as closely round
his head as possible, the doctor seized
his iron-tipped stan, and set out with
out further delay.
Johnson and Bell commenced digging
hole in the heart of a great block OF
ice. 1t was not easy work, owing to the
extreme hardness of the material. How
ever. this very hardness guaranteed the
solidity OF the dwelling. and the further
their labors advanced the more they be-
came sheltered.
Hatteras alternately paced up and
down and stood motionless, evidently
shrinking from any approach to the
scene of the explosion.
In about an hour the doctor return
ed, bringing with him Altamont. the
American. on the sledge, wrapped up