The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 37: what you’re looking at

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THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. 29 By taking a circuitous route, they could attack him at a point he must pass, and with less danger to themselves,. \ “T have been able to keep the sharks from their prey,”’ said their friend, as he came up with the fugi- tives. ‘I think now we shall be able to effect a re- treat to some of the Canadian settlements, where we can lay up in ordinary, for a time, at least.’’ Paul Jones turned his thoughts to his present po- sition, and, considering the measure the most advisable to take, readily consented to it. ‘But Gonzalvi, the boy, is too weak to move,” he said, ‘and I will not abandon hin.” “Tt is not my intention,’ said Nick; ‘‘ we must ride and tie, as the old saying goes. “ One mile you must bear him on your shoulders,” he added, ‘‘ the next I will do the same.” “It’s of little consequence what. becomes of Gon- zalvi,” cried the youth, in feeble accents. ‘“ I feel my race is nearly run, and my bones may bleach here as well as ; anywhere else; therefore proceed alone, and } “You will not persuade me to leave you,” said Paul Jones, interrupting the speaker and raising him into his arms. ‘“ We must endeavour to reach some place of refuge for the night, and in the morning hurry on our journey.” “I can provide you all with shelter,” said the stranger. The offer was willingly accepted by the fugitives, who at once bent their steps forward, bearing their wounded comrade. Though the twilight but imperfectly revealed the various objects of the surrounding region, no very long time had elapsed, when the guide became aware of the presence of their late enemies, the Esquimaux Indians. He perceived at a glance they were surrounded. Though he had no fears for himself, he was full of apprehension for the safety of his companions. While arguing with himself what course to pursue in the emergency, he was suddenly induced by an un- known impulse to diverge from the beaten track, and dart into a chasm that lay on his left. Paul Jones, unconscious of the motive which had urged the stranger to take this direction, essayed no remark, but grasping his charge firmly, and wrapping him in the folds of his ample cloak, followed into the dark opening. CHAPTER X. THE FROZEN SEA, The stranger, who seemed to be acquainted with the country better than his companions, still continued to take the lead in the dismal pathway. The wanderers proceeded along it for some distance, then, striking across a snow-covered bridge of rock, entered an open field of ice. Here the stillness of death reigned in a landscape boundless, deserted, pictueresque. Paul Jones, who had hitherto remained silent, though impressed with the idea that they were still in danger, and that their leader had reason for swerv- ing from the open road, now demanded why he had done so. “TI know these latitudes, and their inhabitants, of old,” was the reply, in answer to the qnestion put to him; “but though they might deceive you, they are not likely to deceive me, an old salt, who have sailed a these waters when I first slung my hammock on © seas. ‘‘In a word,’ continued the old sailor, ‘‘I have discovered that the enemy is hugging us too closely, and carries too many guns 10 make it by any means certain we shall anchor in safety, unless we use stratagem, and put out false signals.” The sound of the conch, or shell, echoing through the solitary pass, proved the truth of the late asser- tion, and that the Indians were in full pursuit. “Those darned niggers are after us,” said the guide. ‘Never mind, we shall give them leg bail, as we are not far from our destination.” “ Where is it?” ‘Before us. The vast plain which stretches itself as far as the eye can reach—snow-clad and ice-girt— is the Frozen Sea, and ie “JT did not deem it possible that one who has proved such a friend, could deceive or- jest with me at such a moment of peril. ‘The place you speak of,” rejoined Paul Jones, “is the most treacherous spot in the world, surrounded as it is, by eddies and gulfs of broken ice.” ‘‘ Nevertheless, we must cross it.” | “‘T should sooner trust to the foe thanits danger- || ous surface.” | ) “If there is danger, I shall be the first to encounter it,” replied the seaman, firmly, ‘‘since I steer fore instead of aft. , “ Besides,” he added, ‘the perfidy of the track is our salvation instead of our ruin, for should our pursuers deviate one foot from it, they will assuredly meet their death in the frozen depths.” “ Trusting in Providence and your guidance, then, we will make the aitempt.” With these words, Paul Jones emulated the stranger, who dashed swiftly down the declivity lead- ing to the icy waste, accompanied by Nick, whose silence during the late discourse had been materially aggravated by an absence of his favourite beverage. The fugitives now commenced their perilous jour- ney. The sombre prospect was calculated to inspire terror in the stoutest bosom. But brave, desperate and enduring, they gave no sign or utterance of fear. Arrived at a point overhung by a huge archway of ice, the stranger called on the travellers to turn to the right. “ Follow me, singly,” he said; “one step from the path will be fatal. Should I miss it, and be engulphed, you will take no harm if you stir not till I recover my footing. ‘“‘ Have we taken the right road?” asked Brandy- nose Nick, finding the ground tremble beneath his eet. “Tf I had not, we should have been some thousand fathoms lower before now.”’ As the stranger spoke, a plunge and a stifled shriek struck upon the ear in the mournful silence. ‘One of our pursuers has perished in his rash at- tempt to follow us,” he continued. ‘“ We must quicken our pace, or they will overtake us before wecan reach the Kiglafreit pass. ‘‘Once there, we may defy the sharks on our lee bow.”’ , An Indian made his appearance as they were about to enter the pass lately mentioned. A ball from the pistol with which Nick had been armed by the trusty guide pierced his brain, and his exulting voice was hushed in death. ‘‘ Waste no more powder,” cried the stranger ; “our danger has passed; we have gained the bridge, and the chase has ended.” The fugitives had no sooner crossed the frail pas- sage, which was composed of crumbling wood, the work of the Aborigines, and joining the summits of the rocks leading to the Kiglafreit pass, than the