Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-04-22
CHAPTER TX

CHAPTER TX.
During this compulsory le,sure
Clawbonny determined to have a talk
with the captain on an important sub-
'ecp-the building Of a sloop out of the
pianks OF the Porpoise
Inc doctor hardly knew how 10 be.
gin. as Hatteras had declared so vebe-
mently that he would never consent
10 use morsel Of American wood. vet
II was high time he were brought to
reasoh' as June was at hand, the only
season for distant expeditions. and
they could not start without a shin
ne thought over It a long while,
ana at last drew the captain aside,
IN the kindest, gentlesr way:
Hatteras, do you believe I'm your
friend?"
MOST certainly I do" replied the
captain, earnestly; my best, indeed.
my only friend"
And If 1 give you a piece Of adv,c.
without your asking, will YOU consid-
ed?"
Yes, for I know you have never
been actuated by self-interest. But
what are you driving att"
walt Hatteras; I have one thing
more to ask Do you look on me as a
true-hearted Englishman like your
SELF, anxious for his country's glory?"
Hatteras looked surprised. but sim
ply said
Il do"
You desire to reach the north pole"
the doctor went on, "and 1 understand
and share your ambition. but to
achieve your object you must employ
the right means"
We'll. and have not sacrificed ev-
erything for it?"
No, Hatteras, you have not sacri-
nced your personal antipathies. Even
at this very moment l know you are
In the mood to refuse the indispensable
conditions of reaching the pole"
"Ah! 1t is the boat you want to talk
about, and that man"
"Hatteras, let us discuss the oues-
ton calmly, and examine the case on
all sides. The coast on which we find
ourselves at present may terminate
abruptly; we have no proof that It
stretches away to the pole; indeed, If
your present information prove cor
rect. we ought to come to an open sea
during the summer months. Well, sup
posing we reach this arctic ocean and
find 1t free from Ice and easy to navi-
gate, what shall we do If we have no
ship?"
Hatteras made no reply.
Tell me, now, would you like to find
yourself only few miles from the
pole and not be able to get to it?"
Hatteras still said nothing, but bur-
led his head In his hands,
Besides" continued the doctor.
look at the question in It's moral as
pect. Here is an Englishman who
sacrifices his fortune, and even his
wife, to win fresh glory for his coun-
try, but because the boat which bears
him across an unknown ocean, or
touches the new shore, happens to be
made Of the planks of an American
vessel-a castaway wreck Of no use to
anyone-will that lessen the honor of
the discovery? II you yourself had
found tho hull of some wrecked YES
sci lying deserted on the shore, would
you have hesitated to make use of 1t;
and must not a sloop built by four En-
glishmen and manned by four English
men be English from keel to gun
waller"
EIatteras was still silent
mo" continued Clawbonny, "the
real truth is, It is not the sloop you
care about; It Is the man."
"Yes doctor. yes" replied the cap
tain. 1T is this American I detest; l
hate him with a thorough English ha-
tired Fate has thrown him In my
path"
ITO save you'll"
"To ruin me. He seems to defy me,
and speaks as II he were lord and mas
ter. He thinks he has my destiny In
his hands, and knows all my projects
Didn't we see the man In his true col
ors when we were giving names to the
different coasts7 Has he ever avowed
his object In coming so far north? You
will never get out of my head that this
man is not the leader of some expedi-
tion sent out by the American govern
ment."
"Well, Hatteras, suppose It is so,
does Il follow that this expedition is
to search for the north pole7 May It
not be to fnd the Northwest Passags7
But anyway, Altamont II In complete