Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-29

left the PROV OF the SNIP out Spooo' SiaSS
J in hand, with anxious, questioning eyes,
and seeking to discover, in the color of
| the water the shape of the waves, and
the breath Of the wind, indications OF
| approaching land.
Hour after hour passed away, and still
Hatteras persevered in his weary watch,
| though his hopes appeared doomed to
| disappointment.
At length, about in the evening,
dim, hazy, shapeless sort of mist SEEM
! ed to rise far away between sea and sky.
1t was not cloud, for it was constantly
vanishing. and then reappearing next
minute.
Hatteras was the first to notice this
| peculiar phenomenon; but after an hours
scrutiny through his telescope, he could
make nothing of it.
| All at once, however, some sure indica-
ton met his eye, and stretching out his
| arm to the horizon. he shouted, in a
| clear ringing voice:
'Landl landl'
His words produced an electrical effect
on his companions, and every man rush
! ed to his side.
II see it, 1 see itp' said Clawbonny
Yes, yes, so do II" exclaimed John
| son.
1T is a cloud said Altamont.
1 1duQa ldnQ. repeated f1aLIeTdSt
1 tones Of absolute conviction.
Even while he spoke the appearance
vanished, and when 1t returned again the
doctor fancied he caught a, CLEAN of light
about the smoke for an instant.
1T is a volcano!'' he exclaimed.
| "A volcano?" repeated Altamont
| Undoubtedly" q
TN so high a Iatitude?"
| why not? Is not Iceland a volcanic
lsland-indeed. almost made of volca-
noes, one might say?"
| We'll, has not James Ross affirmed
the existence of two active volcanoes, p
the doctor agreed, 1.-THE Erebus and the
Terror, on the southern content, in lon
| gitude 40 degrees, and latitude IS de-
| grees? Why, then, should not volcanoes
be found near the north pole7"
| ''It is possible, certainly" replied Alta
mont.
| "Ah, now I see it distinctly" exclaimed
| the doctor. sit is a voleano!'
| Let us make right for 1t, then" said
| Hatteras.
! 1t was impossible longer to doubt the
| proximity Of the coast. In "A hours, prob
ably, the bold navigators might hope to
set foot on its untrodden soil. But
strange as 1t was. now that they were so
near the goal of their voyage, no one
showed the joy which might have been
| expected. Each man sat silent, absorbed
| in his own thoughts. wondering what sort
| of place this pole must be-,
! The birds seemed to shun It, for though
| it was evening, they were all flying to-
! waEd the south with outspread wings.
| Was 1t, then, so inhospitable, that not so
much as sea gull or a ptarmigan could
! find a shelter? The fish, too, even the
| large catacea, were Fastening away
! through the transparent waters. What
could cause this feeling either of repul-
sion or terror?
| At last sleep overcame the tired men,
/ and one after another dropped of, leav-
| ing Hatteras to keep watch.
! He took the helm, and tried his best
| not to close his eyes, for he grudged los
ing precious time; but the slow motion of
/ the vessel rocked him till, in spite of HIM
| self. he was soon, like his companions,
| lockCd fast in deep slumber.
While Hatteras dreamed of home and
J fame, an enormous cloud OF an olive tinge
| had begun to darken the sea and sky. A
| hurricane was at hand The first blast OF
| the tempest reused the captain and his
| companions, and they we're on their feet
In an instant. ready to meet 1t. The sea
had risen tremendously, and the ship was
tossing violently up and down on the bill
/ lows. Hatteras took the helm again, and
kept firm hold of it. while johnson and
! Bell baled out the water which was con-
stantly dashing over the ship.
1t was a difficult matter to preserve the
right course, for the thick fog made II
impossible to see more than a few yards
off.
The sudden tempest might we'll seem to
such excited men. stern prohibition
H. 10 ha H. AatN
III needed but a glance at their resolute
faces to know that they would neither
yield to winds nor waves, but go right ON
to the end.
For a whole day the struggle lasted,
death threatening them each moment; but
about in the evening. just as the fury
OF the waves seemed at its highest pitch,
there came a sudden calm. The wind was
stiIled as II miraculously, and the sea
became smooth as glass.
Then came a most extraordinary mex
lplicable phenomenon.
The fog, without dispensing, became
strangely luminous, and the sloop sailed
along in a zone of electric light Mast.
sail, and rigging appeared penciled In
black against the phosphorescent sky with
wondrous distinctness. The men were
bathed in light, and their faces shone
with fiery glow
n
els It possible?'' said Bell
mo, nor replied Clawbonny I'VE
should be suffocated with its flames so
near"
Perhaps it is the reflection" sugges--
ed Altamont.
mot that much even, for then we must
be near land, and in that case we should
hear the noise of the eruption"
what is II, then?" asked the captain
"It is a phenomenon" replied the doe
tor. seldom met hitherto. II we go on.
we shall soon get out OF this brilliant
glow and be back in the darkness and
tempest again"
"well, let's go on. come what may
said Hatteras.
The doctor was right. Gradually the
fog began to lose its light and then its
transparency, and the bowling wind was
heard not far of. A few minutes more.
and the little vessel was caught IN a
violent quail, and swept back into the
lcyclone.
But the hurricane had fortunately turn.
ed a point toward the outh. and left the
vessel free to run before the wind straight
toward the pole. There was imminent
danger of her sinking, for she sped along
at frenzied speed, and any sudden coils
ion with rock or iceberg must have inevi-
tably dashed her to pieces.