The Field of Ice

ll incomplete, and, after giving him a little time to rest, the Doctor undertook the task of conversing again w

he ice, with provisions and combustibles in abundance still on board, and that, though she had be

some whaler that would take them back to America; but one after another succumbed to fatigue and illness, till at last Altamont and two men were all

was the purpose of his voyage. Altamont said he wanted to make the north-west passage, and this appeared to content the jealous Englishman, for he made no more reference to the subject. "Well," said the Doctor, "it strikes me that,

course open to u

ed Johnson, "for the time we allow our

o- morrow, we must reach the Porpoise by the 15th of March, u

diately, but perhaps the route

an seems quite sure of the posit

e-field should have

, and, after much difficulty, he succeeded in telling the Doctor that the Porpois

off all hope of returning to Europe, unless Bell

needed thorough repair. There was plenty of wood, and, profiting by the experience t

e tent. The small stock of provisions did not add much to the weight, but,

r stores would last. He found that, by allowing three-quarter rations to e

heaped up the wood in the stove, and made a roaring fire, determined to allow themselves this parting luxury. As they gathered round it, basking

et to work again and by three in

st of January, his light was feeble and of short duration. Happily the moon would ris

ng, though the jolting would necessarily increase his sufferings, for

ards the icy bed where the Forward had been, and the little party set out for the Porpoise. Bell was scout, as before; the Doctor and Joh

low that men and dogs were soon panting, and had often to stop and take breath. About seven the moon shone out, and irradiated the whole horizon. Far a

s companion, it looked like

desert, but we shan't die

on, we must be a great distance from any coast. The nearer the coast, the m

is rather m

started, we have been on this

is ice is, we are going over most dangerous gr

is always getting thicker too; for in these latitudes, it snows nine days out of ten even in April and May; a

uring, at all even

f falling through. This ice is strong enough to bear the weight of the

will bear, Mr. Clawbonny?" asked the o

a man; three and a half inches, a man on horse-back; five inches, an eig

eaking of the incessant snow just now, and I cannot help wondering where it

those snowflakes was originally a drop of water in some river, caught up by evaporation into the air, and wafted over here in the shape of clouds; s

creasing mist made it difficult to keep together, and at last, about eight o'clock, they determined to come to a halt, as they had gone

n continuing their route, confirming the truth of Parry's assertion that any man suitably clad may walk abroad with impunity in the lowest temperature, provide

o fall thick and fast, though there was not a cloud in the heavens and through the white flakes the constellations could be seen shin

together with a long rope to avoid getting separated, and it was all but impossible to pursue the right course. Moreover, the brave fellows, in spite of th

her the Porpoise had any actual existence except in Altamont's fevered brain, and more than once the idea even came into

solutely, and laid them down to the score of the unhappy

Their strength was exhausted, and they had a hundred miles more to go. To increase their sufferings, rations had

seven charges of powder were left, and six balls. They had fired

gh to surprise a seal basking on the ice, and, afte

it was so lean that it was worthless as food, unles

to make the attempt, but

zon. Was this a sign that land was near, or was it some ice-fie

where they could rest more comfortably than in the tent, and after three hours' perseverin