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twg_000012588300 | the Kablunets. They must be poor; they may be starving. I will guide them to our home, and show them this land of plenty." He paused abruptly, and looked at his mother with solemn anxiety, for he was well aware that he had given her food for profound reflection. We feel tempted here to repeat our remark about the stron... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588301 | resemblance between different members of the human family, but refrain. This untutored woman of the Arctic lands met her son's proposition with the well-known reply of many civilised persons. "Of what use would it be, my son? No good can come of searching out these poor lands. You cannot benefit the miserable Kablunets... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588302 | you are sure to meet with dangers by the way. Worse--you may die!" "Mother," returned Chingatok, "when the white bear stands up with his claws above my head and his mouth a-gape, does my hand tremble or my spear fail?" "No, my son." "Then why do you speak to me of danger and death?" Toolooha was not gifted with argumen... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588303 | powers. She relapsed into silence and lamp-smoke. But her son was not to be so easily dissuaded. He adopted a line of reasoning which never failed. "Mother," he said, sadly, "it may be that you are right, and I am of too fearful a spirit to venture far away from you by myself; I will remain here if you think | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588304 | me a coward." "Don't say so, Chingatok. You know what I think. Go, if you must go, but who will hunt for your poor old mother when you are gone?" This was an appeal which the astute little woman knew to be very powerful with her son. She buried her head in the smoke again, and left the question to | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588305 | simmer. Chingatok was tender-hearted. He said nothing, but, as usual, he thought much, as he gazed in a contemplative manner at his oily parent, and there is no saying to what lengths of self-sacrifice he would have gone if he had not been aroused, and his thoughts scattered to the winds, by a yell so tremendous that i... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588306 | have petrified him on the spot. But it did nothing of the kind. It only caused him to drop on his knees, dart through the tunnel like an eel, spring into the open air like an electrified rabbit from its burrow, and stand up with a look of blazing interrogation on his huge countenance. The cry had been uttered by | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588307 | his bosom friend and former playmate Oolichuk, who came running towards him with frantic gesticulations. "The Kablunets!" he gasped, "the white-faces have come!--on a floating island!--alive!--smoking!--it is all true!" "Where?" demanded our giant, whose face blazed up at once. "There!" cried Oolichuk, pointing seaward... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588308 | ran off in the direction pointed out, followed hotly by his friend. Oolichuk was a large and powerful man, but, his legs were remarkably short. His pace, compared with that of Chingatok, was as that of a sparrow to an ostrich. Nevertheless he kept up, for he was agile and vigorous. "Have you seen them--have you spoken?... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588309 | abruptly. "Yes, all the tribe was there." "No one killed?" "No, but terribly frightened; they made me run home to fetch you." Chingatok increased his speed. So did Oolichuk. While they run, let us leap a little ahead of them, reader, and see what had caused all the excitement. The whole party had gone off that morning,... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588310 | of Chingatok and his mother, to spear seals in a neighbouring bay, where these animals had been discovered in great numbers. Dogs and sledges had been taken, because a successful hunt was expected, and the ice was sufficiently firm. The bay was very large. At its distant southern extremity there rose a great promontory... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588311 | sea. While the men were busy there making preparations to begin the hunt, Oblooria, Chingatok's little sister, amused herself by mounting a hummock of ice about thirty feet high. When there, she chanced to look towards the promontory. Instantly she opened her eyes and mouth and uttered a squeal that brought her friends... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588312 | first to reach her. He had no need to ask questions. Oblooria's gaze directed his, and there, coming round the promontory, he beheld an object which had never before filled his wondering eyes. It was, apparently, a monstrous creature with a dark body and towering wings, and a black thing in its middle, from which were ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588313 | "Kablunets! white men!" he yelled. "Kablunets!--huk! huk!" echoed the whole tribe, as they scrambled up the ice-hill one after another. And they were right. A vessel of the pale-faces had penetrated these northern solitudes, and was advancing swiftly before a light breeze under sail and steam. Despite the preparation t... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588314 | in search of these very people, this sudden appearance of them filled most of the Eskimos with alarm--some of them with absolute terror, insomuch that the term "pale-face" became most appropriate to themselves. "What shall we do?" exclaimed Akeetolik, one of the men. "Fly!" cried Ivitchuk, another of the men, whose nat... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588315 | and behold!" said Oolichuk, with a look of contempt at his timid comrade. "Yes, stay and see," said Eemerk sternly. "But they will kill us," faltered the young woman, whom we have already mentioned by the name of Tekkona. "No--no one would kill _you_," said Eemerk gallantly; "they would only carry you off and keep you.... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588316 | eager, anxious looks, the steam yacht--for such she was--advanced rapidly, threading her way among the ice-fields and floes with graceful rapidity and ease, to the unutterable amazement of the natives. Although her sails were spread to catch the light breeze, her chief motive power at the time was a screw-propeller. "Y... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588317 | a look of solemn awe. "The white men do not paddle. They could not lift paddles big enough to move such a great oomiak," [see Note ], "and the wind is not strong; it could not blow them so fast. See, the oomiak has a tail--and wags it!" "Oh! _do_ let us run away!" whispered the trembling Oblooria, as she | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588318 | took shelter behind Tekkona. "No, no," said the latter, who was brave as well as pretty, "we need not fear. Our men will take care of us." "I wish that Chingatok was here!" whimpered poor little Oblooria, nestling closer to Tekkona and grasping her tail, "he fears nothing and nobody." "Ay," assented Tekkona with a pecu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588319 | enough to fight everything and everybody." "Does Oblooria think that no one can fight but the giant?" whispered Oolichuk, who stood nearest to the little maid. He drew a knife made of bone from his boot, where it usually lay concealed, and flourished it, with a broad grin. The girl laughed, blushed slightly, and, looki... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588320 | of Tekkona's fur coat. Meanwhile the yacht drew near to the floe on which our Eskimos were grouped. The ice was cracked right across, leaving a lane of open water about ten feet wide between its inner edge and the shore ice. The Eskimos stood on the land side of this crack, a hundred yards or so from it. On | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588321 | nearing the floe the strange vessel checked her speed. "It moves its wings!" exclaimed Eemerk. "And turns its side to us," said Akeetolik. "And wags its tail no more," cried Oolichuk. "Oh! do, _do_ let us run away," gasped Oblooria. "No, no, we will not run," said Tekkona. At that moment a white cloud burst from the si... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588322 | yacht. "Hi! hee! huk!" shouted the whole tribe in amazement. A crash followed which not only rattled like thunder among the surrounding cliffs, but went like electric fire to the central marrow of each Eskimo. With a united yell of terror, they leaped three feet into the air--more or less--turned about, and fled. Tekko... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588323 | deer, herself took the lead; and Oblooria, whose limbs trembled so that she could hardly run, held on to Oolichuk, who gallantly dragged her along. The terror was increased by a prolonged screech from the steam-whistle. It was a wild scramble in sudden panic. The Eskimos reached their sledges, harnessed their teams, le... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588324 | whips, which caused the dogs to join in the yelling chorus, and made for the land at a furious gallop. But their fear began to evaporate in a few minutes, and Oolichuk was the first to check his pace. "Ho! stop," he cried. Eemerk looked back, saw that they were not pursued, and pulled up. The others followed suit, and | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588325 | soon the fugitives were seen by those on board the yacht grouped together and gazing intently at them from the top of another ice-hummock. The effect of the cannon-shot on board the yacht itself was somewhat startling. The gun had been loaded on the other side of the promontory for the purpose of being fired if Eskimos... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588326 | on the coast beyond, in order to attract them from the interior, if they should chance to be there. When, however, the natives were discovered on the ice, the gun was, of course, unnecessary, and had been forgotten. It therefore burst upon the crew with a shock of surprise, and caused the Captain, who was in the cabin ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588327 | moment, to shoot up from the hatchway like a Jack-in-the-box. "Who did that?" he demanded, looking round sternly. The crew, who had been gazing intently at the natives, did not know. "I really cannot tell, sir," said the chief mate, touching his cap. Two strapping youths--one about sixteen, the other eighteen--leaned o... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588328 | question; but it was obvious, from the heaving motion of their shoulders, that they were not so much absorbed in contemplation as they pretended to be. "Come, Leo, Alf, you know something about this." The Captain was a large powerful man of about forty, with bushy iron-grey curls, a huge beard, and an aquiline nose. Th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588329 | him at once, and Leo, the eldest, said respectfully, "We did not see it done, uncle, but--but we think--" "Well, what do you think?" At that moment a delicate-looking, slender lad, about twelve years of age, with fair curly hair, and flashing blue eyes, stepped out from behind the funnel, which had hitherto concealed h... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588330 | "I did it, father." "Ha! just like you; why did you do it? eh!" "I can hardly tell, father," said the boy, endeavouring to choke a laugh, "but the Eskimos looked so funny, and I--I had a box of matches in my pocket, and--and--I thought a shot would make them look so very much funnier, and--and--I was right!" "Well, Ben... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588331 | you may go below, and remain there till further orders." When Captain Vane called his son "Benjamin," he was seriously displeased. At other times he called him Benjy. "Yes, father," replied the boy, with a very bad grace, and down he went in a state of rebellious despair, for he was wildly anxious to witness all that w... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588332 | despair was abated, however, when, in the course of a few minutes, the yacht swung round so as to present her stern to the shore, and remained in that position, enabling him to observe proceedings from the cabin windows almost as well as if he had been on deck. He was not aware that his father, knowing his son's nature... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588333 | and wishing to temper discipline with mercy, had placed the vessel in that position for his special benefit! The difficulty now was, how to attract the natives, and inspire them with confidence in the good intentions of their visitors. In any case this would have been a difficult matter, but the firing of that unlucky ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588334 | tenfold. When, however, Captain Vane saw the natives cease their mad flight, and turn to gaze at the vessel, his hopes revived, and he set about a series of ingenious efforts to attain his end. First of all, he sent a boat in charge of his two nephews, Leonard and Alphonse Vandervell, to set up a small table on the | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588335 | ice, on which were temptingly arranged various presents, consisting of knives, beads, looking-glasses, and articles of clothing. Having done this, they retired, like wary anglers, to watch for a bite. But the fish would not rise, though they observed the proceedings with profound attention from the distant hummock. Aft... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588336 | left an Eskimo dog in its place, with a string of blue beads tied round its neck. But this bait also failed. "Try something emblematic, uncle," suggested Leonard, the elder of the brothers before mentioned. "And get Benjy to manufacture it," said Alphonse. As Benjy was possessed of the most fertile imagination on board... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588337 | brought on deck. The result of his effort of genius was the creation of a huge white calico flag, on which were painted roughly the figure of a sailor and an Eskimo sitting on an iceberg, with a kettle of soup between them. On one side were a pair of hands clasped together; on the other a sprig of heath, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588338 | the only shrub that could be seen on the shore. "Splendid!" exclaimed Leo and Alf in the same breath, as they held the flag up to view. "You'll become a Royal Academician if you cultivate your talents, Benjy," said the Captain, who was proud, as well as fond, of this his only child. The boy said nothing, but a pleased | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588339 | expression and a twinkle in his eyes proved that he was susceptible to flattery, though not carried off his legs by it. The banner with the strange device was fixed to a pole which was erected on an ice-hummock between the ship and the shore, and a bag containing presents was hung at the foot of it. Still these Eskimo | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588340 | fish would not bite, though they "rose" at the flag. Oolichuk's curiosity had become so intense that he could not resist it. He advanced alone, very warily, and looked at it, but did not dare to touch it. Soon he was joined by Eemerk and the others. Seeing this, Captain Vane sent to meet them an interpreter whom he had | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588341 | procured at one of the Greenland settlements in passing. Just as this man, whose name was Anders, stepped into the boat alongside, it occurred to the Eskimos that their leader should be sent for. Oolichuk undertook to fetch him; he ran back to the sledges, harnessed a small team, and set off like the wind. Thus it came... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588342 | that Chingatok and his mother were startled by a yell, as before mentioned. Meanwhile Anders was put on the ice, and advanced alone and unarmed towards the canal, or chasm, which separated the parties. He carried a small white flag and a bag containing presents. Innocent-looking and defenceless though he was, however, ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588343 | steps, regarding every motion of the interpreter with suspicion, and frequently stooping to thrust their hands into their boots, in which they all carried knives. At last, when within hearing, Anders shouted a peaceful message, and there was much hallooing and gesticulation among the natives, but nothing comprehensible... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588344 | a dialect with which he was acquainted, and to his satisfaction found that they understood him. "Kakeite! kakeite!--come on, come on," he cried, holding up the present. "Nakrie! nakrie!--no, no, go away--you want to kill us," answered the doubtful natives. Thereupon Anders protested that nothing was further from his th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588345 | a mother like themselves, and that he wanted to please them. At this Eemerk approached to the edge of the canal, and, drawing a knife from his boot, said, "Go away! I can kill you." Nothing daunted, Anders said he was not afraid, and taking a good English knife from his bag threw it across the canal. Eemerk picked it | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588346 | up, and was so pleased that he exclaimed, "Heigh-yaw! heigh-yaw!" joyously, and pulled his nose several times. Anders, understanding this to be a sign of friendship, immediately pulled his own nose, smiled, and threw several trinkets and articles of clothing to the other natives, who had by that time drawn together in ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588347 | at the things presented. Ivitchuk was perhaps the most excited among them. He chanced to get hold of a round hox, in the lid of which was a mirror. On beholding himself looking at himself, he made such an awful face that he dropt the glass and sprang backward, tripping up poor Oblooria in the act, and tumbling over her... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588348 | This was greeted with a shout of laughter, and Anders, now believing that friendly relations had been established, went to the boat for a plank to bridge the chasm. As Leo and Alf assisted him to carry the plank, the natives again became grave and anxious. "Stop!" shouted Eemerk, "you want to kill us. What great creatu... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588349 | it come from the moon or the sun? Does it eat fire and smoke?" "No, it is only a dead thing. It is a wooden house." "You lie!" cried the polite Eemerk, "it shakes its wings. It vomits fire and smoke. It has a tail, and wags it." While speaking he slowly retreated, for the plank was being placed in | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588350 | position, and the other natives were showing symptoms of an intention to fly. Just then a shout was heard landwards. Turning round they saw a dog-sledge flying over the ice towards them, with Oolichuk flourishing the long-lashed whip, and the huge form of their leader beside him. In a few seconds they dashed up, and Ch... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588351 | Without a moment's hesitation he strode towards the plank and crossed it. Walking up to Anders he pulled his own nose. The interpreter was not slow to return the salutation, as he looked up at the giant with surprise, not unmingled with awe. In addition, he grasped his huge hand, squeezed, and shook it. Chingatok smile... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588352 | squeeze so as to cause the interpreter to wince. Then, perceiving at once that he had got possession of a key to the affections of the strangers, he offered to shake hands with Leonard and his brother, stooping with regal urbanity to them as he did so. By this time the Captain and first mate, with Benjy and several of | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588353 | the crew, were approaching. Instead of exhibiting fear, Chingatok advanced to meet them, and shook hands all round. He gazed at Captain Vane with a look of admiration which was not at first quite accountable, until he laid his hand gently on the Captain's magnificent beard, and stroked it. The Captain laughed, and agai... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588354 | They both squeezed, but neither could make the other wince, for Captain Vane was remarkably powerful, though comparatively short of limb. "Well, you _are_ a good fellow in every way," exclaimed the Captain. "Heigh, yah!" returned Chingatok, who no doubt meant to be complimentary, though we confess our inability to tran... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588355 | "Come across," shouted Chingatok, turning abruptly to his companions, who had been gazing at his proceedings in open-mouthed wonder. The whole tribe at once obeyed the order, and in a few minutes they were in the seventh heaven of delight and good-will, receiving gifts and handshakings, each pulling his own nose freque... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588356 | otherwise exchanging compliments with the no less amiable and gratified crew of the steam yacht _Whitebear_. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note. The oomiak is the open boat of skin used by Eskimo _women_, and is capable of holding several persons. The kayak, or man's canoe, ho... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588357 | yacht, owned and commanded by Captain Jacob Vane, had sailed from England, and was bound for the North Pole. "I'll find it--I'm bound to find it," was the Captain's usual mode of expressing himself to his intimates on the subject, "if there's a North Pole in the world at all, and my nephews Leo and Alf will help me. Le... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588358 | a doctor, _almost_, and Alf's a scientific Jack-of-all-trades, so we can't fail. I'll take my boy Benjy for the benefit of his health, and see if we don't bring home a chip o' the Pole big enough to set up beside Cleopatra's Needle on the Thames embankment." There was tremendous energy in Captain Vane, and indomitable ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588359 | resolution cannot achieve all things. There are other factors in the life of man which help to mould his destiny. Short and sad and terrible--ay, we might even say tremendous--was the _Whitebear's_ wild career. Up to the time of her meeting with the Eskimos, all had gone well. Fair weather and favouring winds had blown... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588360 | and success had received her, as it were, in the Arctic regions. The sea was unusually free of ice. Upernavik, the last of the Greenland settlements touched at, was reached early in the season, and the native interpreter Anders secured. The dreaded "middle passage," near the head of Baffin's Bay, was made in the remark... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588361 | and, passing Cape York into the North Water, they entered Smith's Sound without having received more than a passing bump--an Arctic kiss as it were--from the Polar ice. In Smith's Sound fortune still favoured them. These resolute intending discoverers of the North Pole passed in succession the various "farthests" of pr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588362 | Benjy Vane, gazed eagerly over the bulwarks at the swiftly-passing headlands, while the Captain pointed out the places of interest, and kept up a running commentary on the brave deeds and high aspirations of such well-known men as Frobisher, Davis, Hudson, Ross, Parry, Franklin, Kane, McClure, Rae, McClintock, Hayes, H... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588363 | It was an era in the career of those three youths that stood out bright and fresh--never to be forgotten--this first burst of the realities of the Arctic world on minds which had been previously well informed by books. The climax was reached on the day when the Eskimos of the far north were met with. But from that time | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588364 | a change took place in their experience. Fortune seemed to frown from that memorable day. We say "seemed," because knitted brows do not always or necessarily indicate what is meant by a frown. After the first fears of the Eskimos had been allayed, a party of them were invited to go on board the ship. They accepted the ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588365 | went, headed by Chingatok. That noble savage required no persuasion. From the first he had shown himself to be utterly devoid of fear. He felt that the grand craving of his nature--a thirst for knowledge--was about to be gratified, and that would have encouraged him to risk anything, even if he had been much less of a ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588366 | was. But if fear had no influence over our giant, the same cannot be said of his companions. Oolichuk, indeed, was almost as bold, though he exhibited a considerable amount of caution in his looks and movements; but Eemerk, and one or two of his friends, betrayed their craven spirits in frequent startled looks and chan... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588367 | strange compound of nervousness and courage, while Akeetolik appeared to have lost the power of expressing every feeling but one--that of blank amazement. Indeed, surprise at what they saw on board the steam yacht was the predominant feeling amongst these children of nature. Their eyebrows seemed to have gone up and fi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588368 | their eyes and mouths to have opened wide permanently. None of the women accepted the invitation to go aboard except Tekkona, and Oblooria followed her, not because she was courageous, but because she seemed to cling to the stronger nature as a protection from undefined and mysterious dangers. "Tell them," said Captain... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588369 | are the machines that drive the ship along when there is no wind." He pointed down the hatchway, where the complication of rods and cranks glistened in the hold. "Huk!" exclaimed the Eskimos. They sometimes exclaimed Hi! ho! hoy! and hah! as things were pointed out to them, but did not venture on language more intellig... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588370 | hear the steam-whistle," suggested the mate. Before the Captain could countermand the order, Benjy had touched the handle and let off a short, sharp _skirl_. The effect on the natives was powerful. They leaped, with a simultaneous yell, at least a foot off the deck, with the exception of Chingatok, though even he was v... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588371 | round the waist, and buried her face in her friend's jacket. A brief explanation soon restored them to equanimity, and they were about to pass on to some other object of interest, when both the steam-whistle and the escape-valve were suddenly opened to their full extent, and there issued from the engine a hissing yell ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588372 | even the Captain's angry shout was not heard. A yard at least was the leap into the air made by the weakest of the Eskimos--except our giant, who seemed, however, to shrink into himself, while he grasped his knife and looked cautiously round, as if to guard himself from any foe that might appear. Eemerk fairly turned a... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588373 | the stern of the yacht, over which he would certainly have plunged had he not been forcibly restrained by two stout seamen. The others, trembling violently, stood still, because they knew not what to do, and poor Oblooria fell flat on the deck, catching Tekkona by the tail, and pulling her down beside her. "You scoundr... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588374 | the din ceased, "I--I--go down, sir, to--" "Oh! father, don't be hard on me," pleaded Benjy, with a gleefully horrified look, "I really could _not_ resist it. The--the temptation was too strong!" "The temptation to give you a rope's-ending is almost too strong for _me_, Benjamin," returned the Captain sternly, but ther... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588375 | he turned to explain to Chingatok that his son had, by way of jest, allowed part of the mighty Power imprisoned in the machinery to escape. The Eskimo received the explanation with dignified gravity, and a faint smile played on his lips as he glanced approvingly at Benjy, for he loved a jest, and was keenly alive to a ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588376 | of humour. "What power is imprisoned in the machinery?" asked our Eskimo through the interpreter. "What power?" repeated the Captain with a puzzled look, "why, it's boiling water--steam." Here he tried to give a clear account of the nature and power and application of steam, but, not being gifted with capacity for luci... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588377 | unaccustomed to such matters, the result was that the brain of Chingatok was filled with ideas that were fitted rather to amaze than to instruct him. After making the tour of the vessel, the party again passed the engine hatch. Chingatok touched the interpreter quietly, and said in a low, grave tone, "Tell Blackbeard,"... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588378 | let the Power yell again!" Anders glanced up in the giant's grave countenance with a look of amused surprise. He understood him, and whispered to the Captain, who smiled intelligently, and, turning to his son, said-- "Do it again, Benjy. Give it 'em strong." Never before did that lad obey his father with such joyous al... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588379 | whistle shrieked, and the escape-valve hissed ten times more furiously than before. Up went the Eskimo--three feet or more--as if in convulsions, and away went Eemerk to the stern, over which he dived, swam to the floe, leaped on his sledge, cracked his whip, and made for home on the wings of terror. Doubtless an evil ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588380 | Meanwhile Chingatok laughed, despite his struggles to be grave. This revealed the trick to some of his quick-witted and humour-loving companions, who at once burst into loud laughter. Even Oblooria dismissed her fears and smiled. In this restored condition they were taken down to the cabin and fed sumptuously. That nig... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588381 | seal's rib, he gradually revealed to her the wonders he had seen. "The white men are very wise, mother." "So you have said four times, my son." "But you cannot understand it." "But my son can make me understand," said Toolooha, helping the amiable giant to a second rib. Chingatok gazed at his little mother with a look ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588382 | that evidently perplexed her. She became restless under it, and wiped her forehead uneasily with the flap at the end of her tail. The youth seemed about to speak, but he only sighed and addressed himself to the second rib, over which he continued to gaze while he masticated. "My thoughts are big, mother," he said, layi... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588383 | bone. "That may well be, for so is your head, my son," she replied, gently. "I know not how to begin, mother." "Another rib may open your lips, perhaps," suggested the old woman, softly. "True; give me one," said Chingatok. The third rib seemed to have the desired effect, for, while busy with it, he began to give his p... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588384 | a graphic account of the yacht and its crew, and it was really interesting to note how correctly he described all that he understood of what he had seen. But some of the things he had partly failed to comprehend, and about these he was vague. "And they have a--a Power, mother, shut up in a hard thing, so that | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588385 | it can't get out unless they let it, and it drives the big canoe through the water. It is very strong--terrible!" "Is it a devil?" asked Toolooha. "No, it is not alive. It is dead. It is _that_," he pointed with emphasis to a pot hanging over the lamp out of which a little steam was issuing, and looked at | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588386 | his mother with awful solemnity. She returned the look with something of incredulity. "Yes, mother, the Power is not a beast. It lives not, yet it drives the white man's canoe, which is as big as a little iceberg, and it whistles; it shrieks; it yells!" A slightly sorrowful look rested for a moment on Toolooha's benign... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588387 | evident that she suspected her son either of derangement, or having forsaken the paths of truth. But it passed like a summer cloud. "Tell me more," she said, laying her hand affectionately on the huge arm of Chingatok, who had fallen into a contemplative mood, and, with hands clasped over one knee, sat gazing upwards. ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588388 | heart of Toolooha was made to bound by a shriek more terrible than she had ever before heard or imagined. Chingatok caught her by the wrist, held up a finger as if to impose silence, smiled brightly, and listened. Again the shriek was repeated with prolonged power. "Tell me, my son," gasped Toolooha, "is Oblooria--are ... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588389 | you to me alone?" "The little sister and the people are safe. I came alone to prevent your being taken by surprise. Did I not say that it could shriek and yell? This is the white man's big canoe." Dropping the old woman's hand as he spoke, Chingatok darted into the open air with the agility of a Polar bear, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588390 | and Toolooha followed with the speed of an Arctic hare. CHAPTER FOUR. A CATASTROPHE AND A BOLD DECISION. Two days after her arrival at the temporary residence of the northern Eskimos, the steam yacht _Whitebear_, while close to the shore, was beset by ice, so that she could neither advance nor retreat. Everywhere, as f... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588391 | the sea was covered with hummocks and bergs and fields of ice, so closely packed that there was not a piece of open water to be seen, with the exception of one small basin a few yards ahead of the lead or lane of water in which the vessel had been imprisoned. "No chance of escaping from this, I fear, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588392 | for a long time," said Alf Vandervell to his brother, as they stood near the wheel, looking at the desolate prospect. "It seems quite hopeless," said Leo, with, however, a look of confidence that ill accorded with his words. "I do believe we are frozen in for the winter," said Benjy Vane, coming up at the moment. "Ther... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588393 | said the Captain, whose head appeared at the cabin hatchway. "If any of you had been in these regions before, you would have learned that nothing is so uncertain as the action of pack ice. At one time you may be hard and fast, so that you couldn't move an inch. A few hours after, the set of the currents | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588394 | may loosen the pack, and open up lanes of water through which you may easily make your escape. Sometimes it opens up so as to leave almost a clear sea in a few hours." "But it is pretty tight packed just now, father, and looks wintry-like, doesn't it?" said Benjy in a desponding tone. "Looks! boy, ay, but things are | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588395 | not what they seem hereaway. You saw four mock-suns round the real one yesterday, didn't you? and the day before you saw icebergs floating in the air, eh?" "True, father, but these appearances were deceptive, whereas this ice, which looks so tightly packed, is a reality." "That is so, lad, but it is not set fast for th... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588396 | it looks like it. Well, doctor," added the Captain, turning towards a tall cadaverous man who came on deck just then with the air and tread of an invalid, "how goes it with you? Better, I hope?" He asked this with kindly interest as he laid his strong hand on the sick man's shoulder; but the doctor shook his head | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588397 | and smiled sadly. "It is a great misfortune to an expedition, Captain, when the doctor himself falls sick," he said, sitting down on the skylight with a sigh. "Come, come, cheer up, doctor," returned the Captain, heartily, "don't be cast down; we'll all turn doctors for the occasion, and nurse you well in spite of your... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588398 | heart, Captain, you may depend on't, as long as two of my bones will stick together, but--well, to change the subject; what are you going to do now?" "Just all that can be done in the circumstances," replied the Captain. "You see, we cannot advance over ice either with sail or steam, but there's a basin just ahead whic... | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
twg_000012588399 | a little more secure than that in which we lie. I'll try to get into it. There is nothing but a neck of ice between us and it, which I think I could cut by charging in under full steam, and there seems a faint gleam of something far ahead, which encourages me. Tell the steward to fetch my glasses, | 60 | gutenberg | unknown |
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