The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-09-01

ciled In black against the prosphoV-
escent sky with wondrous d~istinetness
The men were hathed in light. and
their faces shone with a merry glow.
Tt Is a phenomenon replied the
doctor. seldom net hitherto. II we 80
on. we shah soon set out Of his brill
liant glow and be back IN the darkness
and tempest again"
Well. let's so on. come what may
said Hatteras
The doctor was right. Gradually the
fog began to lose its light and then It's
transparency. and the bowling wind
was heard o far of. A few minutes
more and the little vessel was caught
In a violent squall. and swept back In
to the cyclone.
But the hurricane had fortunately
turned a point toward the south. and
wind straight toward the pale
At last they began evidently 70 near
h coast Strange symptoms were
manifest in the air; the fog suddenly
rent like a curtain torn BY the wind:
and for an instant. like q fash OF light
ming. an immense column Of name was
seen on the horizon
The wind suddenly changed to
southeast. and drove the ship back
again from the land
As Hatteras stood with disheveled
hair. grasping the helm as IL welded TO
his hand. he seemed the animating
soul Of the ship.
Al at once a fearful sight met his
gaze
Scarcely twenty yards in front was a
great block OF ice coming right to-
wards them. mounting and falling on
the stormy pillows. ready 70 overturn
at any moment and crush them in its
descent
But this was not the only danger
hat threatened the bold n~avigators
iceberg was packed with white
bears. budding close together. and evil
IDENTIFY beside themselves with terror.
For a quarter OF an hour. which
seemed a whole century. the sloop SAIL
ed on IN this formidable company,
sometimes a few yards distant and
sometimes near enough 10 touch.
The storm now burst forth with re-
doubled fury The little bark was Iift-
ed bodily out OF the water. and whlrled
round and round with the most fright
luI rapldity- Mast and sail were O
A whirlpool began to form among
waves. drawing down the ship
gradually by its irresistible suction.
AL fve men stood erect. gazing at
zach other In speeches. terror. But
suddenly the ship rose perpendicular
her Prov went above the edge OF
he vortex. n getting out Of the CEN
.er Of attraction BY her own velocity,
he escaped at a tangent from the cir
:umference, and was thrown far be-
Fond swift as a ball from a lannon's
mouth.
1t was 2 o'clock IN the morning.
For a few seconds they seemed stu
,eded. and then q cry OF -Hatterasl~
from every lip.
On all sides nothing was visible but
he tempestuous ocean.
Take the helm. Altamont." said the
loctor. -and let US try our utmost to
Ind our poor captain"
Johnson IN Bell seized the oars
rowed about for more than an
but their search was vain-Haf-
eras was lostl
LOST and 30 near the pole. just as
le had caught sight OF the goaII
At such a distance from the coast IL
vas impossible Hatteras could reach IL
live. without an oar OF even so much
a spar to help him: II ever he
ouched the haven OF his desire. Il
Tould be as q swollen. mutiIated
Longer search was useless. and moth
ng remained but to resume the route
The tempest was dying out
nd about 5 in the MORNING. on the
18th Of July. the wind fell, n the sea
radually became calm. The sky re-
overed its polar elearness, and les,
han three miles away the land a~-
cared in all its grandeur.
The new continent was only an isl-
nd. OF. rather. a volcano. fixed ike !
Clubhouse on the north pole Of the
The mountain was In fun activity
curing out a mass OF burning stones
nd glowing rock 4
This enormous rock in the middle Of
le sea was 5000 feet high, just about
ie altitude OF Hecla-
"can we land?" aid the doctor.
The wind is carrying US right to
!" said Altamont.
Let as 60. then" said clawbonny.
s5ecfedly.
He had no heart now for anything. !
he north pole was indeed before hts
'es. but not the man who had DIS 1
It. :
As thex got nearer the island. which
not more than eight or ten miles
circumference, the n~avigators no.
ed a tiny ford. just large enough 70 |
-rbor their boat, and made toward s
Immediately. They feared their cap
ms dead body would meet their eyes /
the coast, and yet It seemed dim !
for a corpse to lie on II. for there 4
% no shore, and the sea broke on
rocks, which were covered with
.ders above water mark.
last the little sloop glided gently u
o the narrow opening between two
1dbanks just visible above the water. .
ERE h would be safe from the vio- Z
&c Of the breakers. Before she =
I'D be moored, Duke began bowling
barking again In the most piteous
Dukel Dukei" called clawbonny.
3ut Duke had already disappeared.