Part 26 (1/2)

CHAPTER XVIII

FINAL PREPARATIONS

Next day the weather changed, the cold returned Snow, and rain, and tempest came in quick succession for several days

Bell had completed the sloop, and done his ell, for the little vessel was adh at the sides and partly decked so as to be able to stand a heavy sea, and yet light enough to be drawn on the sledge without overburdening the dogs

At last a change of the greatest ian to trehest s, and drift away before the first gale; but Hatteras would not wait for the ice-fields to break up before he started Since the journey must be made on land, he did not care whether the sea was open or not; and the day of departure was fixed for the 25th of June--Johnson and Bell undertaking the necessary repairs of the sledge

On the 20th, finding there was space enough between the broken ice to allow the sloop to get through, it was deterton

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The sea was not quite open but it would have been io across on foot

This short sail of six hours sufficiently tested the powers of the sloop, and proved her excellent qualities In coht; it was the chase of a seal by a gigantic bear Mr Bruin was too busily engaged to notice the vessel, or he would have pursued; he was intently watching beside a seal hole with the patience of a true hunter, or rather angler, for he was certainly fishi+ng just then He watched in absolute silence, without stirring or giving the least sign of life

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But all of a sudden there was a slight disturbance on the surface of the water in the hole, which announced the co up of the amphibious animal to breathe Instantly the bear lay flat on his belly with his ts stretched round the opening

[Illustration: The poor seal struggled desperately, but could not free hirasp of his enemy--P184]

Next minute up came the seal, but his head no sooner appeared above the water than the bear's paws closed about hiled desperately, but could not free hied him closer and closer till suffocation was coht were nothing, leaping lightly froained terra firma safely

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On the 22nd of June, Hatteras began to load the sledge They put in 200 lbs of salt etables and preserved meat, besides lime-juice, and flour, and medicines They also took 200 lbs of powder and a stock of fire-ar the sloop and the Halkett-boat, there was about 1500 lbs weight, a heavy

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load for four dogs, and all theit every day, instead of only four days successively, like the dogs employed by the Esquies However, the distance to the Pole was not 150 o more than twelve miles a day, as they could do it comfortably in a month Even if land failed them, they could always fall back on the sloop, and finish the journey without fatigue to s

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All the party were in excellent health, though they had lost flesh a little; but, by attending to the Doctor's wise counsels, they had weathered the winter without being attacked by any of the maladies incident to the climate

Now, they were almost at their journey's end, and not one doubted of success, for a common bond of sy to persevere

On Sunday, the 23rd, all was ready, and it was resolved to devote the entire day to rest

The dwellers on Fort Providence could not see the last day daithout so to leave the snow-hut which had served theood stead, and this hospitable shore where they had passed the winter Take it altogether, they had spent very happy hours there, and the Doctorreference to the subject as they sat round the table at the evening et to thank God for his manifest protection

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