Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-04-14
CHAPTER TX.

| CHAPTER TX.
during this compulsory leisure.
Clawoonny determined to have a talk
with the captain on an important sub
Ject-the building OF a sloop out OF the
planks OF the Porpoise.
The doctor hardly knew how to be-
gin. as Hatteras had declared so vehe-
mently that he would never consent
10 use morsel OF American wood: yet
II was high time he were brought to
reason as June was at hand, the only
season for distant expeditions. and
they could not start without a ship.
he thought over 1t a long while.
and 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 II / give you a piece OF advice
without your asking. will you consid-
er my motive is perfectly disinterest-
ed?"
Yes, for know you have never
oeen actuated by self Interest. But
| -NN dAlflAB dI
wait Hatteras; have one thing
more to ask Do you look on me as a
true-hearted Englishman like your
sen. anxious for his country's glory?"
Hatteras looked surprised. but sim
ply said:
Il do"
| 1ou desire to reach the north pole"
the ooctor went on. and understand
and share your ambition. but to
achieve your object you must employ
the right means"
"en' and have not sacrificed ev-
erything for it?"
No, Hatteras, you have mot .scrI-
need your personal antipathies Even
at this very moment know Won are
In the mood to refuse the indispensab bile
conditions Of reaching the pole"
An! 1t Is the boat you want to talk
about and that man"
Hatteras. let US discuss the oues-
ton calmly. and examine the csse on
all sides. The coast on which we and
ourselves at present may terminate
abruptly; We have no proof that II
stretches away to the pole; indeed n,
your present information prove cor
rect we ought to come to an omen sea
during the summer months. Well. sun
posing we reach this arctic ocean and
mo II free from ice and easy to navi
gate what shall we do II we have no
ship?"
Hatteras made no reply.
Tell me, now. would you like IN ind
yourself only a few miles fron, ,ha
pore and not be able to get to III"
hatteras stil said nothing. but bur-
led his head in his hands.
BESIDES" continued the doctor
look at the question In its moral as
pect Here Is an Englishnan who
sacrifices his fortune, and even hi.
wife. to win fresh glory for his conn
try, but because the boat which hear.
MIN across an unknown ocean or
touches the new shore, happens to he
made OF the planks OF an American
'essei-a castaway wreck Of no nee m
anyone-will that lessen the honor NJ
the discovery? II you yourself had
round the hull OF some wrecked vee.
sci lying deserted on the shore would
you have hesitated to make use NJ %.
and must not sloop built by four En-.
silsnmen and manned by four English
men be English from keel to e1,n-
waller"
Hatteras was still silent.
NO" continued Clawbonny, -tbe
real truth is, It L. not the sloop Won
care about; It is the man"
Yes. doctor, yes" replied the can
tain TT Is this American I detes,. =
hate him with thorough English ha
tired. Fate has thrown him In NV
path"
ITO save you'll"
ITO 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 protects
Didn't we see the man in his true col
ors when we were giving names m tha
different coasts7 Has he ever avowed
his object in coming so far nortb7 yo,,
will never get out OF my head that tbI,
man Is not the leader OF some e.nad,-
tion sent out by the American govern
ment"
We'll. Hatteras. suppose IL is M
does 1t follow that this expedition ts
to search for the north pole7 Nav 4,
not be to find the Northwest Pa.sape7
But, anyway, Altamont Ia In complete
Ignorance Of our object, for neither
johnson. nor Bell. nor myself, have
ever breathed word to him about II
and am sure you have not"
Well. let him always remain so-
He must be told in the end, for we
can't leave him here alone"
why not? Can't he stay here In
Fort Providence?"
He would never consent to that
Hatteras; and. moreover, to leave a
man In that way, and not know whetb-
er we might find him safe when we
came back. would be worse than i'm
prudent, 1t would be inhuman. Alta
mont Will come with US; he must
come. But we need not disclose our
projects; let US tell him nothing. but
simply build a sloop for the ostensibI.
purpose OF making a survey of the
coast"
Hatteras could not bring himself 10
consent. but said:
And suppose the man won't allow
his ship to be cut upr"
| In that case. you must take the law
II