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Steve Young, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 35. Preparing For The Enemy |
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_ CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. PREPARING FOR THE ENEMY "Well, Johannes, what do you say to this?" said the captain, when he appeared on deck the next morning--a natural morning Steve called it, for there had been darkness once more in the night. "Winter's coming, sir," replied the Norseman, as he glanced round him at the dark, clear, metal-like ice which spread from shore to shore, and looked strong enough to bear. "Yes, but has it come? Surely this will melt before sunset, and we shall have some mild weather ere the cold regularly sets in?" "If we were two or three hundred miles farther south, sir," replied the man, "I could answer you; but who can tell what the weather is likely to be up here, where man has had no experience. We can only wait and see." They waited; and for a fortnight longer the ice which formed in the night melted in the day. Then came one that was dull and sunless, when the ice did not melt, and they had a fall of snow. That night the ice more than doubled in thickness, and they started ashore next morning for a good long tramp eastward, drawing a light sledge bearing provisions, and ready for the carriage of any game that might be shot. This was a new experience, for winter garments were now worn, with heavy boots and mittens, fur caps, and eye-protectors. The snow filled up the inequalities of the ground, and the sledge glided easily upon its runners; but its load was soon increased, for the walking was heavy, and as the sun shone out the men were glad to pile their heavy coats upon the light framework and walk without them. The scene was brilliant, and every here and there they found traces of animals, of whose presence they would otherwise have been ignorant. Skene was the first to notice footprints, snuffling loudly and growling, and setting up his fur about his neck, according to his custom when he smelt an enemy; and upon these tracks being examined, they proved to be similar to those which would be made by a dog with thick claws and very hairy feet. "Wolves," said Johannes directly. "Those which you heard the other night, Mr Steve." A sharp look-out was kept for these visitors, but none were seen. Soon after, though, they came upon the fresh-looking footprints of a bear-- marks so big that they indicated an animal of large size. But the beast which printed the long marks had gone toward the shore, and though arms were kept ready for instant use, they marched on seeing nothing but the dazzling snow. After a time the doctor called a halt and gave orders. "Spectacles at once," he said, "or I shall be having cases of snow-blindness to attend." So eye-protectors were mounted, and the party moved on again, the captain choosing a fresh direction, one not previously tried, and, in spite of the heavy walking, as there was no halting to track game, they made plenty of progress, getting miles beyond any point previously reached before they stopped to attack the provisions and rest. It was intensely cold, but the sun shone brilliantly, and there was not a breath of air; so that the great lowering of the temperature was not unpleasant, especially as the exertion had sent the blood racing through their veins, while the novel aspect of the scene was full of interest for Steve. The peaks glittered in the new-fallen snow, and, look where they would, it was at a world of dazzling whiteness, save where the shadows and valley-like rifts in the mountain-sides appeared to be of a delicate blue. "We must take advantage of all the light now, Steve," said the captain, "and make expeditions inland whenever it is possible. We might pick out a few places and make _caches_ of provision, so as to get farther out each time. But it is more from a sense of duty than anything else. We must feel that we have done everything possible to find our friends." "Yes, sir. Why not make our way right across?" "Across where?" "The island to the farther shore, and then work right round the coast, and come up again on our side." "For several reasons, my lad," said Captain Marsham, smiling. "It would be very risky to take the men so far from our headquarters, not knowing how soon we may be attacked by a terrible storm. We do not know that we are upon an island with a farther shore. And it would be impossible to make such a journey as you propose. Are these reasons enough?" "Plenty, sir. Are we going any farther?" "No. We have got by the days of endless light, my lad, and I don't wish for us to be benighted out in these snowy valleys." So the captain gave the word to turn back, and they reached the ship just at dusk, after a most uneventful journey, not having encountered a single head of game. The next morning they found that more snow had fallen, and the deck had to be cleared. There was not the most remote prospect now of doing more that season, so the boats were made snug and covered; and as there was no likelihood of the ship moving in a drift, so set fast was she in the ice, the men were now started to rig up an awning like the roof of a hut and completely cover in the deck. This was worked at with a will, till a double thickness of canvas was spread, and over that tarpaulins. "Keep some of the cold out, eh, doctor?" "Yes," said that gentleman; "and I suppose in a night or two you'll have snow over it to keep us warmer." "It is probable. Wonderful how rapidly we are settling down into winter. A long one, too," he added in a low voice. "Can you keep us all in good health till the summer comes again?" "It depends more upon yourselves than upon me," said Mr Handscombe sharply. "Keep every one so busy that he gets tired and has no time to think." "I mean to," said the captain quietly. "There will be enough to keep them pretty well employed in getting and sleighing over to here all the coal I hope to have on board--enough, that is, to make up for all that is gone, and so as to give us an ample supply to keep our stoves burning as much as we like." "Well," said the doctor, "with plenty of work, plenty to eat and drink, and the means of keeping up bonny fires, I do not see why we should not pass through the winter pleasantly enough. The darkness will be depressing when it comes, but the men will have grown pretty well accustomed to it; for it comes on, I suppose, so thoroughly by degrees. Let's see, how long will it be perfectly dark?" "Not at all, I hope," said Captain Marsham. "Nature counteracts a great deal of the gloom by the brilliancy of stars and moon, and the reflection from the dazzlingly white earth. Then, too, I suppose we shall have the aurora pretty often." "But for how long does the sun disappear entirely?" "About eighteen weeks," said the captain. "Once it has reached its farthest point to the south I don't care, for then it will be journeying back to us. Our task seems to be to keep the men in good heart up to the shortest day; after that we can manage." Days passed with a fair amount of sunshine, and then came a week of storm, the wind giving them a taste or two of what might be expected later; and the snow fell heavily, loading down the great tent-like arrangement over the deck to such an extent that the men were busily employed rigging up the extra spars and spare yards as rafters and ridge-poles, to help bear the strain put upon the ropes; and then all knew that there was to be no autumn, for the brief northern summer gave place at one bound to winter. After the storm the snow was piled and drifted up round and about the bows to such an extent that in one place there was a complete slope from the top of the bulwark, and the snow lay deep upon the ice, though here and there a few passages were left where the wind had swept the surface pretty clear; and as the day was fairly bright and the way open in the direction of the narrow, jagged rift, it was decided to take advantage of the opportunity and have a trip through the gorge to the seashore. Anticipating that the zigzagging, canal-like waterway would be too slightly frozen in so sheltered a spot to bear a party of men, a boat was run down the snow-slope on to the ice, and then skated along on the iron of the keel where the snow was absent, and driven over or through it when it lay deep. The men took to the task readily, the dog entered into the excitement of the business, and Steve followed sedately enough with the captain and doctor, envying Watty his spirits, for the lad had permission to accompany the party, and he was revelling in the excitement of a day's freedom from the slavery of the galley. The men, too, thoroughly enjoyed their task, dragging and pushing with plenty of cheering as they got the boat through some great snow-wreath which barred their way to the chasm-like opening in the side of the fiord. "Black water--no ice!" cried Steve, who made his way to the front when they were nearly across. "Na, tat's not watter," said Watty, who had followed him. "She's a' ice." "Nonsense! Look how clear it is!" cried Steve. "It must be water." But as he reached the entrance he had to alter his opinion, for the black-looking water proved to be perfectly solid; and Watty dashed on, slid some distance, and ended by jumping upon it. "Tak' car', laddie!" cried Andrew; "ef she gangs through she'll hae to stay." But there was no fear, and the boat was left upright in a snow-drift, the provisions packed on the little hand-sleigh brought as well, and the journey commenced through the chasm. At first every one proceeded cautiously, expecting moment by moment to hear a sharp crack; but after a few minutes confidence was felt in the strength of the ice, and all stepped out boldly. "Hadn't we better have brought the boat, after all, sir?" Steve asked the captain. "There'll be open water as soon as we are through, and we might get a seal or two, if we didn't get a walrus." "If the water is frozen in this sheltered passage, my lad," replied the captain, "there is no fear about the water on the other side." "What! you think it would be frozen?" "Certainly. I expect we shall find the open sheet of water along the shore frozen from side to side." "Then there'll be no walrus?" "Not one." "Nor seals?" "I don't expect we shall see anything now for months but bears, wolves, and foxes. Beside them, we shall be the only occupants of the place. I have not seen a bird for days." It proved as the captain had said, for as soon as they were well through the narrow passage there lay the ice to right and left, and not a patch of open water was to be seen. Winter had set in indeed, and after a long tramp without seeing a single animal the party retraced their steps, and returned to the ship light enough, but in excellent spirits, the inevitable being accepted; and as there was an abundant supply of food in store, the absence of game in boat and sleigh, though it made Mr Lowe smile, was deemed to be of not the slightest consequence. The next day the coaling began, the men being divided into four parties, one to hew down the coal on the mountain-side, another to collect and pass it down to the sledges, and the other two parties to draw the loaded and empty sledges to and fro. The mineral fuel was abundant, and the men worked so well that very soon the beaten track through the snow was blackened with dust and small fragments of coal; while, after this had been kept on for a week, the men treating the dirty job as quite a frolic, Steve felt that the sooner another fall of snow came down the better for the face of nature. He was not kept long waiting, for the second night after the captain had been satisfied that no more coal could be stored with any convenience down came the storm again, lasting a couple of days, and the last hope of the weather becoming open that season departed. "No, sir," said Johannes; "the winter has come, and means to stay." "Right on through the long, black darkness when there is no sun," said Steve with a slight shiver, and he went and looked at the glass. The doctor saw him go, and joined him. "Down to zero, my lad," he said. "That would make people at home stare. But it's only the mercury that's down to zero; our spirits must be up to a thoroughly genial height." Steve nodded, but he could not help a curious sensation of awe creeping over him as once more he thought of the coming six months, during which they would almost have bidden good-bye to the sun. "I can't quite think how we shall do without any light, Mr Handscombe," said Steve quietly. "Nor I neither, my lad; but _experientia docet_, as the Latin folk used to say." "But doctors should not," said the captain merrily, as he came up. "_Docet_ sounds suggestive from the lips of a medical man. Now, Steve, I appoint you commander-in-chief of the fires. See that they are properly kept up from now till the end of next spring." "If spring there be," said the doctor. "I expect that we shall step from winter into summer, as we did from summer to winter; but we shall see." "Yes," said the captain, "we shall see." _ |
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