Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-05-13

idy buried forever In the depths Of the
volcano A second-only a second
though 1t seemed an age-elapsed, and
there was Altamont and the dog hold
Ing the Inflated Hatteras! Man and
dog had caught him at the very mo-
ment when he disappeared in the
abyss.
Hatteras was saved! Saved in spite
OF himself; and half an hour later he
lay unconscious in the arms of his de-
spairing companions.
When he came to himself, the doc
tor looked at him In speechless an
guish. for there was no glance of rec
ognition In his eye. 1t was the eye of
blind man, who gazes without see-
ing.
Good heavens!" exclaimed johnson,
me is blind"
mol" replied Clawbonny, mo! My
poor friends, we have only saved the
body of Hatteras; his soul is left be-
hind on the top Of the volcano. His
reason Is gone!"
Three hours after the whole party
were back once more in the grotto.
We'll, friends" said the doctor, I'VE
cannot stay longer in this island; the
sea is open. and we have enough pro-
visions. We ought to start at once
and get back without the least delay to
Fort Providence, where we must win
ter"
The day passed In profound dejec-
tion. The insanity of the captain was
bad omen. and when they began to
talk over the return voyage, their
hearts failed them for fear. They
missed the intrepid spirit of their
leader.
Next morning they made all ready
to sail. and brought the tent and all Its
belongings on board.
But before leaving these rocks, never
to return, the doctor. carrying out the
Intentions Of Hatteras, had cairn
erected on the very spot where the
poor fellow had jumped ashore. 1t was
top Of the other. 30 as to be a land
mark perfectly visible while the erup-
tions of the volcano left 1t undisturb-
ed. On one of the side stones, Bell
chiseled the simple inscription:
JOHN HATTERAS.
The duplicate of the document at
testing the discovery Of the north pole
was inclosed in a timed iron cylinder,
and deposited in the cairn, to remain a
silent witness among those desert
rocks.
This done, the four men and the cap
tain. a poor body without a sout. set
out on the return voyage.
On the 18th they sighted Altamont
harbor. but as the sea was open all
along the coast, they determined to go
round to Victoria bay by water. in
stead of crossing New America In the
sledge.
AS the sloop made Victoria bay they
all hastened to Fort Providence. But
what a scene of devastation met their
eyes! Doctors house, stores, powder
magazine, Notifications, all had melted
away. and the provisions had been ran
sacked by devouring animals.
After a thorough search, a few cases
of pemmican were found scattered here
ed meat. altogether enough for six
weeks, and a good supply Of powder.
It was soon collected and brought on
board.
At last, after thirty days tolerably
quick sailing, and after battling for
forty eight hours against the increas-
ing drift Ice, and risking the frail sloop
a hundred times. the navigators saw
themselves blocked in on all sides.
1tav
scrupulous precision, and found they
were in II degrees 15 minutes latitude
and So degrees minutes longitude.
This is our exact position, then"
said the doctor. I'VE are in South
Lincoln, just at Cape Eden, and are
entering Jones sound. With a little
more good luck we should have found
open water right to Baffins bay.
II suppose, then," said Altamont,
"our only course is to leave the sloop,
and get by sledge to the east coast of
Lincoln"
The rest agreed.
The little vessel was unloaded and
the sledge put together again. At last,
on the oath, they set foot on North
Devon.
1t was not till the 30th Of August
that they emerged from those wild
mountains into a plain. which seemed
to have been upturned and convulsed
by volcanic action at some distant Pc
riod
Altamont, who had displayed great
unselfishness and devotion to the 9TH
ers, reused his sinking energies, and
determined to go out and find food for
his comrades.
He had been absent about an hour
and only once during that time had
they heard the report of his gun; and
now he was coming back empty-hand-
ed, but running as II terrified.
Down there, under the snow!" cried
Altamont, speaking as II scared, and
pointing in q particular direction.