The Frozen Crew Of The Ice-Bound Ship; Or, Terrors Of The Arctic Region — page 42: what you’re looking at

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84 THE FROZEN CREW AND ICE-BOUND SHIP, The upper half descends into the sea, which boils and scatters misty clouds, as she receives in her bosom the mighty heap. It is to a region of eternal winter we must now direct attention. No habitation is visible—no dwelling tenanted by man can be seen; but, following the spur of the farthest eminence, a thin column of pale blue smoke arises, There stands, too, the bare mast of a half-buried ship, among the rifts and ridges. Presently, figures of men, covered closely with furs and skins, emerge slowly from beneath the winter housing on the deck of the vessel, and descend upon the snow by a ladder and steps cut in the frozen wall of the same. We have spoken of smoke. There is no smoke without fire, and the vapour holds out some prospect of breakfast. We shall find, presently, a range of primitive con- struction, over which a kettle is slung with something seething in it, and the vessel merely balanced by two poles, upon a stick transverse. The crew have acted precisely as predicted, and seem to enjoy in succession their scanty meal. In these outeasts we recognise the pirates of the E! Malachor, who have chosen, under the guidance of Rotaldo, this spot as their retreat. ‘“* Nipcheese,” said Harpoon, “you were on watch last, did you observe anything »” “ Nothing,” be replied, “except that it’s as cold inside as out. I’m all over in a shiver-de-freeze, Two o’clock on a cold winter’s. morning in London is summer weather compared to this.’’ “ Well, here we are, and we can’t help ourselves, though the thermometer is below zero.” ‘““ When I think of the comforts I left behind me,” sighed Nipcheese. ‘You must forget them,” “Tcan’t. It breaks my heart tothink how happy I was, and what a fool I’ve been to change my con- dition ; but it cant last much longer, no human being can stand this cold. * Last night,’ continued Nipcheese, “I whistled a tune, my breath froze, and the music didn’t come out vill [ thawed it by the fire this morning.” * We have no night or morning here,” exclaimed Fergus Blake, ‘ the monotony of sunless twilight is marked only, by our rest and labour.” ‘If we don't die by the frost before the victuals is gone, I wonder what we shiall have to do,” mut- tered Nipcheese in anything’ but a pleasing reverie. ‘‘‘Lhere is then but one alternative,’ observed the seaman, who had overheard the remark. ** And that is a ‘““We must eat one another.” “I shouldn't advise you to begin with me,” said Nipcheese, recoiling, ‘I shall be sure to disagree with the crew if they are any way bilious.” ‘, Comrades,” said Rotaldo advancing, “I have to give orders, ‘hey are important and must be at- tended—pipe all hands to the galley fire here.” in a few minutes the whole of the pirates were assembled, and the men saw in a moment that some unexpecied event was pending. “I have been thinking over in my mind,’ con- tinued the Spamiard, ‘ of the best means of escaping from this terrible place in which we have now been settled for a period of more than two months, ©’ “oe e have lought, *he added, * bled and seen our best friends fall with victory in their eyes, without drooping in spirit, or feeling such horror as the voiccless tortures of this boundless desolation, which freezes the mind,”? “southern ice fields, “Well, well,” exclaimed his companions,in an ecstacy of impatience. . “‘T have thought of one effort that may extricate us.” ““ Name it.” “The winter is becoming severer—birds are get- ting more scarce, and our provisions, even with the aid of theproduce of theice rocks, is decreasing every day.” “True, true.’ “We have no time to lose.” : ** My scheme,’ added Rotaldo, “is that a detach- ment should set forth this very day and endeavour to reach the settlement of Baflin’s Bay two degrees south,” | “But who is to undertake this journey, and who is to remain,” asked Fergus Blake; “one half of the crew are too weak to venture a mile.” ‘“* We must select from the able-bodied an explor- Ing party that will undertake this dangerous journey.” Twelve volunteers at once assented, and with an air of apparent unconcern, shortly after the proposal of Rotaldo, took their departure. It was along and toilsome track these men had to follow, but, in spite of extreme privation they must needs undergo, not one of the party evinced the slightest show of fear or disinclination to com- plete the task he had imposed upon himself. Fully equipped and fortified for any emergency that might happen on the inclement route, the band fifteen in number, pursued their way rapidly and were soon lost to the sight of the remaining crew as they descended a defile leading to the more CHAPTER XII. ° THE PIRATES FALL IN WITH A FRIENDLY TRIBE COMING TO HUNT THE SEAL IN. THE FROZEN REGIONS. Soon after the exploring party had departed, the forms of men might be seen issuing from the narrow vista through which tbey had passed. At first their progress was guarded and very slow, as though they dreaded the renewal of some fright- ful incident. A light figure preceded the rest of the party and advanced every step he took with caution and sur- prising activity. First mounting a hillock, then a hill of ice, be indicated by gestures to his followers the path they ought to pursue. i Nor were those in the rear wanting in the fore- sight and prudence of the leader of the van. 5 One among them moved a little on one flank, and watched lynx-like, with an eye long accustomed to read the smallest sign of approaching peril. The appearance of these warriors (for as such we must regard them) tracing the snowy wilderness would have been singular to the European at first sight. ; They were the inhabitants of the North-Eastern extremity of America, and familiarly known by the name of Esquimaux Iudians. The body of the savages, in mést cases, was nearly naked, and presented a terrific emblem of death, drawn in intermingled colours of black and white. Tach had his head closely shaved, on which no hair was allowed to grow but tiat forming the chi- valrous and well known scalping tult. A solitary eagle’s plume, that crossed the crown and depended over the left shoulder, was sule orna-