Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER IL


and fixed the 22d OF February for
starting. The sledge and the boat were
packed as closely as possible with pro-
visions and spirits, and heaps of wood.
to obtain which they had hewed the
brig down to her water line. The last
day the men ran riot They complete
" sacked the ship, and in drunken
paroxysm Pen and two or three others
set 1t on flre. 1 fought and struggled
against them, but they threw me down
and assailed me with blows, and then
ehe witches, headed by Shandon, went
on towards the east. and were soon
out OF sight.
I found myself alone on the burning
ship. and what could / dot The are
hole was completely blocked up with
tca. had not q single drop Of waterf
For two days the Forward struggled
with the flames, and you know the
rest"
long silence followed the gloomy
recital broken at length By Hatter&s.
who said.
Johnson, thank you; you did all
you could to save my ship, but single
handed you could not resist Again I
thank you. and now let the subject be
dropped. Let us unite efforts for eur
common salvation There are four Of
M. four companions, four friends, and
al our lives are equally precious
We are all devoted to YOU" said
the doctor; and your words come from
our hearta But what do you think we
should dot"
MY opinion might appear interest
ID" said Hatteras, sadly. Let me
hear all yours frst."
Captain" said Johnson. before pro-
nouncing on such an important matter,
wish to ask you q question"
Ask II, then, Johnson
You went out yesterday to Ascer-
tain our exact position; well. In the
nsid drifting or stationary"
Perfectly stationary. 1t had not
moved since the last reckoning was
made"
A discussion opened at once about
what to do. Hatteras wanted stil to
try to reach the pole, as retreat seemed
equally impossible.
I'VE may ind rich hunting grounds"
he urged. I'VE know the route back is
barren"
The other three wouldn't listen to
such proposal and Hatteras was de-
claring he would start for the pole
alone, when he felt light touch on his
arm. 1t was Altamont. the American.
who had crawled out Of bed and man
aged to yet on his knees. He was try
Ing to speak. but his swollen lips could
scarcely make a sound Hatteras went
towards him, and watched him so at
tentively that in few minutes he
made out a word that sounded like
Porpoise. STOPPING over him he asked:
'Is 1t the Porpoise7"
Altamont made a sign in the affirm
alive, and Hatteras went on with his
queries, now that he had found a clew.
Tn these seas7"
The affirmative gesture was repeated.
Els she In the north?"
yes"
do you know her positionH"
yes"
"Exactly2"
Eyes"
For minute or so nothing more was
said, and the onlookers waited with
palpitating hearts.
Then Hatteras spoke again.
Listen to me. We must know the
exact position OF our vessel will
count the degrees aloud, and you will
stop me when come to the right one"
The American assented by a motion
of the head. and Hatteras began:
Wen take the longitude first One
hundred and Ave degrees, Nor 1O6 de-
greea, lot degrees? 1t is to the west. I
SUPPOSED"
eyes," replied Altamont.
Let us go on, then: 100 degrees, 10
degrees, 112 degrees, ia degrees, ll6
degrees. us degrees, 100 degrees"
YES" interrupted the sick man.
'One hundred and twenty degrees of
longitude, and how many minutesf
viii count"
Hatteras began at No. I, and when
he got to IL. Altamont made a sign to
stop.
very good" said Hatteras; "now
for the latitude. Are you listening9
Eighty degrees. 81 degrees, 81 degrees.
IS degrees"
Again the sign to stop was made.
Nov for the minutes; Five minutes.
10 minutes, Is minutes, 20 minutes. 4S
minutes, 80 minutes. IS minutes"
Altamont stopped him once mora
and smiled feebly.
you say, then. that the Porpoise IA
In longitude 100 degrees is minutea
ana latitude IS degrees and IS min
utes7"
"Yes," sighed the American, and fell
back motlonless In the doctors arms.
completely overpowered by the EFFORT
he had made.
'Friends!" exclaimed Hattsras; you
see was right. Our salvation lies in
deed in the north. always In the north.
We shall be savedl"
But the joyous. exulting words had
hardly escaped his npsh before q sud
den thought made his countenance
change.
The serpent of jealousy had stunR
MIN, for his stranger was an American.
and he had reached three degrees near
ar the pole than the Inflated Forward
By further patient questioning after
. rest. the doctor soon ascertained that
the Porpoise was three-mast Ameri-
can ship. from New York. wrecked On