The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-03-18
CHAPTER XII.

The sight of the sloop suggested to
Clawbonny the propriety Of giving AL
tamont's name to the little bay. His
proposition to that effect met with
unanimous approval. and the port was
forthwith dignified by the title of AL
lamont harbor.
According to the doctors calcula-
lions, the travellers were now only
three degrees distant from the pole.
They had gone over 200 miles from
Victoria bay to Altamont harbor, and
were in latitude 81 degrees minutes
and longitude 118 degrees 35 minutes.
Next morning by 8 o'clock all the re-
naming effects were on board, and the
preparations for departure completed.
quarter of an hour afterward the
little sloop sailed out of Altamont har-
Dor, and commenced her voyage Of dis
covery. The wind was favorable, but
there was little of it, and the weather
was positively warm.
Toward evening Hatteras and his
companions lost sight of the coast
Night came on, though the sun re-
manned just above the horizon. Since
the departure from Altamont harbor,
ther north.
The next day brought no signs Of
land; there was not even a speck on
the horizon.
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 a cloud, for it was
constantly vanishing, and then reap
pearing next minute.
Hatteras was the first to notice this
peculiar phenomenon; but after an
hours, scrutiny through his telescope
he could make nothing out of it,
All at once, however, some sure in
dication met his eye, and stretching
out his arm to the horizon, he shouted
in a clear, ringing voice:
Land land!"
His words produced an electrical eff
feet on his companions. and every man
rushed to his side.
Il see it, l see it," said Clawbonny.
Yes. yes. so do T." exclaimed john
son.
1T is a cloud said Altamont.
Land! land!" repeated Hatteras, in
tones of absolute conviction.
Let us make right for it, then"
said Hatteras.
1t was impossible longer to doubt
the proximity of the coast In TWEEN
ty-four hours, probably, the bold nayi-
gators might hope to set foot on its
untrodden soil. But strange as If 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.
At last sleep overcame the tired mon
and one after another dropped Off
leaving Hatteras to keep watch.
While Hatteras dreamed Of how,
and fame, an enormous cloud of on
olive tinge had hegun to darken 600
and sky. hurricane was at bona
The first blast of the tempest ro,,.ed
the captain and his companions .nd
they were on their feet in an insto
ready to meet it. The sea had riser
tremendously. and the ship was toes
ing violently up and down on the ~,
lows. Hatteras took the helm apo,,
and kept firm hold of it, while John
son and Bell baled out the water which
was constantly dashing over the shin
This sudden tempest might well
seem TO such excited men, a stern pro.
nloltion against further approach t.
the pole; but it needed but glance
at their resolute faces to know tina,
they would neither yield to winds no,
waves but go right on to the end.
For a whole day the struggle lasted
ueatn threatening them each moment
me next evening. just as the fury O
e waves seemed at its highest pitch
e came sudden calm. The win,
s.nied as If miraculously, and tn,
0ecame smootn az glass.