The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-09-18
CHAPTER I.

the north pole, and gain for Eng
land the glory of its discovery.
But he had struggled for nine
months against currents and tenn
pests, shattering icebergs and
breaking through almost insur-
mountable barriers.
In an unprecedented winter he
had outdistanced all his predeces-
sors and accomplished half his
task, when he saw all his hopes
blasted. The mutiny of his worn
out crew had left him and his
little band of three men in a ter
rible situation-helpless in an icy
desert, $500 miles from their ma
tive land-their ship a wreck,
blown up by the mutineers.
However, the courage of Hat
teras 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 a YES
tige remained. Shapeless black
ened fragments, twisted bars of
iron, cable ends still smoldering,
and here and there in the dis
lance spiral wreaths of smoke
that was all. Books, instruments
and precious collections were in
ashes.
Clawbonny, the surgeon, and
Johnson, the boatswain, surveyed
the wreck. Bell, the carpenter,
lay insensible ON the ice. Capt.
Hatteras stood apart, arms fold
ed, his faithful dog beside him.
Poor old brig!" exclaimed the
doctor. 81 had grown attached to
her. 1 loved her as one loves a
house where he has spent a life
time"
CAY! it's strange what a bold
those planks and beams get on
fellows heart" said Johnson.
"And the long-boat-is that
burnt" asked the doctor.
1.-THE mutineers carried it off,"
"And the pirogue?"
"Shivered into thousand
pieces!"
Then we have nothing but the
Halkett boat?"
Eyes, we have that still,
thanks to your idea of taking it
with you."
THAT isn't much" said the
doctor.
"And we have a dying one to
look after"
"a dying mani"
Eyes, Capt. Altamont, an
American navigator, whose ship,
the porpoise, was stranded some
where to the north. We found
him, half starved and frozen on
the ice," said the doctor.
Johnson muttered an exclama-
ton of pity. But his mind went
back at once to his own desperate
situation.
Then we have no fuel what
eVerf" he said.
mo-"
"And no provisions?"
mo-"
"And no ship to make our way
back to England?"
1t required courage to face
these gloomy realities. After a
moments silence, Johnson 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 ex-
posed to this temperature"
Eyes, but we must first revive
Bell" replied the doctor. "Then
60 and find the sledge, and get
the American"
Bell lay on the ice almost in
animate. Johnson had to take
vigorous measures to rouse him,
but at last, by dint of shaking
and rubbing him with snow, he
succeeded.
Come, Bell" he cried, don't
give way like this. Exert your
self, my man; we must have a
talk about our situation, and we
need place to put our heads in.
Come and help me, Bell. You
haven't forgotten how to make a
snow hut, have you? There is
an iceberg all ready to hand;
we've only got to hollow It out.
Let's set to work; we shall find
that is the best remedy for u.s."
Bell tried to shake off his tor
por and help his comrade, while
DR.. Clawbonny undertook to 20
and fetch the siedge and the
dogs.
win you go with him, cap
tain, asked Johnson.
mo, my FRIEND" said Hatterasa
in gentle tone. IF the doctor