The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 38: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

30 ravine beneath echoed with the sound of its falling timbers. The stranger, to the surprise of his associates, had drawn a small axe from his belt, and, by severing the uprights of the bridge, had deprived the foe of the means of attacking them from that quarter, and rendered their retreat secure, at least, till morning. After a few minutes’ walking, the whole party came upon a snow hut, nestling beneath some shelter- ing rocks, and verging on the arctic circle. The commodious dwelling of the stranger, studi- ously decorated with bears’ skins, and other miscel- laneous Grapery, supplied all wants, and in the morning, after a sound sleep, and a hearty meal of Laplander’s fare, the journey of the previous day was resumed. Gonzalvi was so far recovered as to be able to walk, while he and his associates, buried in furs pro- vided by their guide, did not feel the excessive cold which the dryness of the chilled atmosphere rendered endurable. One thing alone had slightly affected the comfort of the guests: it was the strange appearance of their host, when exposed to their full view. He was a square-made dwarf, with ahead of por- tentious size, for sharp and diminutive features, and, having only one eye, forcibly brought to the mind of the observers a recollection of the spectre pilot, Hans Hinckman. But his total dissimilitude to that party, added to his subsequent fate, soon dispersed any alarm they might have felt at the singular coincidence. The travellers were in good spirits, and hoped to reach their destination in two or three days. The track over the Frozen Sea was in the best possible order, and they went with ease several miles an hour. Towards noon, the stranger, arriving at the first halting-place, bade his companions rest and refresh themselves, while he proceeded to lie down and apply his ear to the ice. “There is a ground swell,’ he exclaimed, as his quick sense distinguished a hollow and grating noise, ascending from the abyss below him; ‘“‘so we must crowd all sail to reach port in safety.” “Ts there danger?”’ ** Not at present, while the day remains clear, but if the dark streaks, which I see towards the East, should blow to this quarter, we must expect nothing less than rough weather.” The sun had now reached its height, and there was no alteration in the appearance of the sky. But the motion of the sea under the ice became more susceptible, as the journey over it proceeded. ‘The sun had no sooner declined, than the banks of cloud: from the East began to ascend, and the dark streaks, which had been alluded to, put themselves in motion against the wind, now blowing stiffly. The snow was next violently driven about by par- tial gusts from the peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air. At this juncture, the guide addressed his com- panions, ‘““My doubts,’ he said, “are now confirmed ; “it will be impossible for us to take up our night’s quarters at the place I intended.’’ ‘“What can we do, then?” asked Paul Jones, in accents which showed in their utterance, his previous apprehension. ** Nothing.” ‘Nothing! Good heavens! have you only led us to despair and death? Is there no road to follow— no succour to hope for? Is our sepulchre to be under these eternal icebergs ?” “There is one means by which I can control the destiny that threatens us; and after I have averted ts _ \ “ —————_———— Cee eee ee THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP. it, what mortal on earth, or demon beyond it, shall deny my power?” The wild ecstacy with which the stranger spoke, so resembled triumphant insanity, that Paul Jones answered angrily— ‘“Were your pretensions less iofty, and your speech more plain, I should be assured of our safety.” The voice of the speaker was suddenly silenced by a sound like that of an earthquake, while the prospect before him was truly terrific. The ice had broken loose from the rocks, and, parting into a thousand pieces, rushed like an avalanche against the precipices that spread them- selves far and wide over the wilderness. In another instant, the whole mass, extending for several miles from the coast, began to burst, and be overwhelmed by the immense waves. The sight was tremendous, and awfully grand. The large snow-fields, raising themselves out of the gulfs, struck against each other, and plunged into the deep with a crash similar to thunder. The darkness of the heavens, the irresistible fury of the wind, and the dashing of the waters dis- mayed the travellers, who beheld in the end, with a sensation of awe and horror, that they were sepa- rated from each other. One floating raft of ice bore on its summit Paul Jones and Nick. Another gave temporary succour to Gonzalvi and the treacherous guide. Paul Jones had the misery to behold the latter refuge drift away from the one on which he stood. ‘* For mercy’s sake—for heaven’s sake save me!” shrieked Gonzalvi, struggling in vain to disengage himself from his companion, who no longer dis- guised his hostile intentions. Paul Jones would willingly have assented to the boy’s wish, but being more than a cable’s length from him, could possibly not grasp the hand which was held out towards him. Gonzalvi made one more desperate but ineffectual effort to rid himself of the grasp that was fastened upon him, and failing, fell down on the ice which still bore him and his: antagonist, apparently de- prived of sense and reason. It was not until day dawned, that Paul Jones awoke from tne slumber into which he had fallen, and discovered Nick standing by his side. At first, his thoughts were scattered and fearfully confused. He felt that some dreadful calamity had happened, but he could not call to mind what it was. Finding himself buried in his furs, which his faithful friend had taken the precaution to cover him with during his protracted sleep, the truth at once flashed upon him, and he buried his face in his hands. “ Halloa, captain! you ain’t going to pipe hands to. the pumps, I hope!” said Nick, noticing his action. ‘Sailing in the sea of despair won’t lead us into the haven of hope, and if we make for that port we shall perhaps be able to set at defiance the breakers ahead of us.” Roused by the nautical eloquence of his com- panion, which flowed in a most animated manner from his lips, Paul Jones endeavoured to look upon their present position under more favourable auspices, ‘You have laboured hard, Nick,” he replied, “while I have been sleeping ; it is now wy turn to watch, while your rest for a time,” ‘Well, somehow or other I don’t feel inclined to turn in just now,” answered the other; ‘ whether it is resolution or faith that we shall soon drop the Om Comichbooks