Chapter 7 Chapter 7 The Arctic Circle

The expedition continued northwestward, but the dogs were worn out by pulling the sleds in the rough terrain.These brave beasts are no longer running wild, and when they first set out, they were difficult for the driver to control.A tired cart dog can only cover eight to ten miles a day.Still, Jasper Hobson pushed the squad forward as best he could.He was anxious to get to the end of Big Bear Lake, to Fort Confield.There he intends to gather some useful information for the expedition.Had the Indians who frequented the northern shore of the lake crossed the coastal waters of the sea?Is the Arctic Ocean navigable at this time of year?This is the serious problem. Only by solving these problems can the fate of the new business station be determined.

The area traveled by the squad was often cut off by numerous rivers, most of which fed into two major rivers, the Mackenzie on both sides and the Copperman on the east.These two great rivers flow from south to north into the Arctic Ocean, and between these two main rivers flow numerous lakes, lagoons and ponds.The water had thawed, and the sledge could no longer venture forward.After that, it is necessary to walk around the lake, which greatly increases the distance of the journey.Indeed, Lieutenant Hobson had a point.Winter is truly the season in the Arctic as it keeps the region unobstructed.Dame Paulina Barnett will see this again and again.

Moreover, this region among the Badlands is as desolate as almost the entire northern part of the American continent.Indeed, it has been calculated that its average population is less than one person per ten square miles.Excluding the few Indians among these residents, there are thousands of merchants and soldiers belonging to various fur companies.These people usually gather in the southern area, near the commercial station.However, the team never saw any human footprints on the way.All that remains on the fragile ground are the footprints of ruminants and rodents.I've seen bears, polar bears of the most terrifying kind.The rarity of carnivores, however, surprised Mrs Pauline Barnett.The female traveler, referring to the plot in the story, thought that the Arctic region should be a place where fierce animals roamed, because shipwrecks or whalers in Baffin Bay, and people there in Greenland and Spitsburg were attacked every day, But here, the team's journey is extremely rare.

"Wait for winter, ma'am," replied Lieutenant Hobson, "and wait for the famine to come, and perhaps you will see it!" After a tiring and long journey, on May 23, the team finally arrived at the edge of the Arctic Circle.People know that this latitude is 23 degrees 27 minutes and 57 seconds away from the North Pole, and it constitutes a precise boundary line. When the arc of the sun appears on the back of the earth, the gaze is reflected on this boundary line.From this point, the squad's expedition was fully into the arctic region. This latitude was carefully determined with equal dexterity by Thomas Blake and Jasper Hobson, manipulating the most precise instruments.Paulina Barnett, who was there for the survey, was pleased to learn that she was finally crossing the Arctic Circle.This indeed satisfies the pride of the lady traveler.

"You have crossed two tropics in previous travels, ma'am," the lieutenant said to her, "and you have come to the edge of the Arctic Circle today. Rare explorers have been able to make expeditions in such different places! Some People can be said to be experts in the tropics. Usually, Africa and Australia are their research places, such as Barthes, Biertong, Livingstone, Speke, Douglas, Stuart and the like. Others On the contrary, they love the Northland, people don't know enough about it, people like Mackenzie, Franklin, Penny, Conner, Paley, Laye, we are walking now is what they walked way. Lady Paulina Barnett should therefore be congratulated for becoming a world traveler."

"Should see everything, or at least try to see everything, Mr. Hobson," replied the traveller. "I think the hardships are the same in all regions. If we say that in the Arctic we don't have to worry about the fever in the tropics, the dangers of high temperatures, and the brutal attacks of black tribes, then the enemy of severe cold is not less. Forbidding. Ferocious beasts are encountered at all latitudes, and I suppose the white bear is no friendlier to the traveler than the tiger of Tibet and the lion of Africa. Therefore, on the other side of the Arctic Circle, two The same dangers, the same barriers between the tropics. Certain regions over there have long resisted attempts by the most daring explorers."

"I'm afraid it is, ma'am," replied Jasper Hobson, "but I have reason to think that the arctic regions will be more difficult to access. In the tropics it is mainly the aborigines who pose an insurmountable barrier. I Know that there are many travelers who fall prey to these African barbarians, and that one day there shall be a war of civilizations to weaken them! But in the Arctic and Antarctic, on the contrary, it is not the inhabitants but nature that hinders the explorers In itself, it is the impassable ice floes, the cold, the cold, which paralyzes the power of human beings."

"Do you think, then, Mr. Hobson, that the most mysterious places in tropical Africa and Australia will be searched for, but not in the frigid regions?" "Yes, ma'am," replied the Lieutenant, "and it is based on facts. The most daring discoverers of the Arctic, such as Parley, Penney, Franklin, Mark Lull, Carner, and Moldon, Never crossed 83 degrees north latitude, so more than 7 degrees from the pole. On the contrary, Australia was explored several times from south to north by the intrepid Stuart, and Africa - so exciting to explorers The dread of life—from Loanga Bay to the mouth of the Zambia, has been thoroughly surveyed by Dr Livingstone. It is therefore reasonable to think that the equatorial regions have been geographically observed almost entirely, as compared with the northern and southern regions."

"Do you think, Mr. Hobson," asked Paulina Barnett, "that the human race will one day reach its culmination?" "Undoubtedly, ma'am," replied Jasper Hobson, "maybe—or woman," he added, smiling. "It seems to me, however, that the method by which the voyagers have hitherto reached the poles, and all the meridians of the globe, should be entirely changed. It is said that a few explorers seem to have discovered navigable seas. However, This ice-free sea is inaccessible, if it exists, and no one can produce strong evidence that it can reach the North Pole. Besides, I think that this navigable sea is not so convenient for explorers. Said to create obstacles. For me, during the whole trip, I prefer to walk on solid earth, whether it is rock or ice. Well, through the uninterrupted expedition, the food supply station and coal station I built will get closer and closer to the pole, and in this way, with a lot of time, a lot of money, and maybe a sacrifice of life to solve this scientific problem, I think I will probably be able to reach this inaccessible pole of the earth .”

"I agree with you, Mr. Hobson," replied Lady Polina Barnet, "and I will not be afraid to share the fatigue and danger with you, if you should try it some day, for the sake of bringing the United The kingdom's flag is planted on the North Pole! However, this is not our purpose at this moment." "Not at present, ma'am," said Jasper Hobson. "However, once the company's plans come to fruition, it is possible that the new fortress will be a natural starting point for an expedition to the north when the new fort is erected on the frontier of the American continent. Furthermore, if the fur animals are hunted too hard and hide in the poles, we will You have to go after it."

"Unless the expensive fad of wearing a fur coat is no longer fashionable," says Paulina Barnett. "Ah! Madame," cried the lieutenant, "there will always be some pretty woman who wants a sable muff or a mink shawl, and she must be satisfied!" "I'm afraid," said the traveler with a smile, "that the first person to reach the pole may have been hunting an otter or a silver fox." "So do I, ma'am," Jasper Hobson continued. "Since human nature is such, profit will always attract people farther and faster than interest in science." "What! It's you who say that, you, Mr. Hobson!" "Aren't I also an ordinary employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, ma'am. And the company does nothing else, but invests money and personnel to take risks, isn't it also for the sole purpose of increasing profits?" "Mr. Hobson," replied Pauline Barnett, "I think I know you well enough to be sure that you will devote yourself to science if need be. Going to the North Pole, I'm sure you won't hesitate." However, she adds with a smile, "That's a long way off. We're only as far as the Arctic Circle for us, and I hope we won't cross it. Encountered too many difficulties." "I don't know much, ma'am," said Jasper Hobson, who was watching the weather carefully. "The weather has been dangerous for a few days. Look at the gray sky. All the fog will soon turn to snowflakes, and any wind will blow us into a blizzard. I'm really in a hurry to get there Big Bear Lake!" "Then, Mr. Hobson," said Mrs. Polina Barnet, rising, "we must waste no time, and give orders to go." The lieutenant needed no urging.Alone, or with a few companions as energetic as himself, he would be on his way day and night.But he can't make everyone like him.Even if he is not tired at all, he still needs to be considerate of others.Therefore, that day, out of caution, he let the squad rest for a few hours, and did not resume the road until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Jasper Hobson was right about the changing weather.Indeed, the sky changed quickly.This afternoon the fog grew thicker, forming a gloomy yellowish hue.The lieutenant was worried, but he didn't show it.He chatted with Sergeant Long as the dogs in the sled wearily pulled him along.This sign of the storm did not trouble him. Unfortunately, the terrain the team was crossing at this time was not suitable for sledging.The ground was undulating and ditched, with piles of granite erected at times, and blocks of ice just beginning to melt blocking the way, which greatly delayed the progress and made the journey extremely difficult.The unfortunate dogs were worn out, and the driver's whip was useless. So the lieutenant and his men were often forced to step down, to help the weary dogs, to push carts behind the sleds, and even to lift them, when sudden bumps nearly threw them out.It is understandable that this unending weariness must be endured by everyone without complaint.Only Thomas Blake, absorbed in deep thought, never got out of the car, because his fat body could not cope with the difficult work. Since crossing the Arctic Circle, people have seen that the ground has changed.Apparently, the geographic upheaval has laid the boulders here.However, full vegetation is now visible on the ground as well.On the side slope of the hill, where the cliff blocks the cold north wind, there are not only large and small bushes, but also groups of trees.The species of trees are invariant: pine, fir, willow, birch.The presence of these trees attests to the vitality of certain plants of this arctic region.Jasper Hobson hopes that when he reaches the edge of the Arctic Ocean, there will be no shortage of these Arctic tree species.These trees can be used to build forts, and can also be used to heat the dwellers.Everyone had a glimmer of hope, as he did, and while observing this relatively unarid region, and the great white plain between Lake Eskrough and Fort Enterprise, everyone noticed that contrast. At night, the yellow fog thickened and the wind picked up.It snowed heavily soon, and the ground was covered with a thick layer. In less than an hour, the snow layer was already a foot thick.Since the snow was not frozen, it became muddy, making it extremely difficult for the sled to move forward.The curved front end of the sled sank deep into the soft white snow, obstructing the movement of the car from time to time. Around 8:00 p.m., the wind started to blow wildly.The snow driven by the storm suddenly threw to the ground, and sometimes jumped into the air, forming a large vortex.Against the strong wind, the dogs were blinded by the wind and unable to move forward.The team was walking in a narrow valley at this time, squeezed between tall icebergs, and the storm rushed into the narrow valley with unparalleled fury.Large ice blocks blown by the strong wind fell on the road, making the journey extremely dangerous.This is similar to a localized avalanche, where the tiniest pieces smash the sled and its rider.In this case, it is impossible to move forward.Jasper Hobson didn't last long either.After consulting with Sergeant Long, he ordered the advance to be halted.However, a shelter must be found to avoid the out-of-control "snowstorm".This is not a problem for those who are used to polar exploration.Jasper Hobson and his comrades knew what to do in such a situation.It was not the first time they had encountered a blizzard, and like this time they were hundreds of miles away from the company fort, with neither Eskimo huts nor Indian huts to hide in. "Iceberg! Iceberg!" cried Jasper Hobson. Everyone understood what the lieutenant meant.If some "igloos," or holes, were dug out of these large blocks of ice, everyone could curl up inside during a snowstorm.Axes and knives slashed at the brittle iceberg at once.Three quarters of an hour later, more than a dozen small holes were dug on the thick iceberg.Two or three people can stay in each hole.As for the dogs, they were loose and free to move about.People are very convinced that they are smart enough to build a hiding place under the snow. Before ten o'clock, all the expedition members hid in the igloo.People form groups of two or three as they wish.Polina Barnitov, March and Lieutenant Hobson occupied a nest.Thomas Blake and Sergeant Long were buried in a hole.Others also got into the igloo.These shelters were warm, if not comfortable, since there is no other shelter for Indians or Eskimos, even in the coldest of days.So Jasper Hobson and his companions could safely wait out the blizzard in the cave, just be careful not to block the opening of the cave with snow.So they carefully cleaned the hole every half hour.During the snowstorm, the lieutenant and his men could barely get out.Luckily, everyone brought enough food to live a beaver life without starving or freezing. For 48 hours, the blizzard got bigger and bigger.The wind howled in the narrow valley and swept away the tops of the icebergs.A huge boom echoed through the valley, showing just how serious the avalanche was.Jasper Hobson had reason to worry, and the mountain journey had raised many insurmountable obstacles.The roar was mingled with the roar, and the Lieutenant could not be mistaken, and he told the brave Mrs Pauline Barnett that there were bears stirring in the canyon.Thankfully, these fearsome animals were too busy to find the travelers' hideouts.Neither dogs nor sleds buried under the snow attracted their attention, and they passed by without doing any harm. The last night, that of May 25-26, was even more terrifying.The storm was so violent it was like an iceberg collapsing.Indeed, it was felt as if these great icebergs were trembling at their very foundations.If the iceberg falls, what awaits the unfortunate is the shadow of death.The ice cubes burst with a terrifying sound, shaking for a while, forming many cracks, which would affect the firmness of the iceberg.However, no major collapse has occurred.The big iceberg stood upright, and towards the early morning, as is often the case in the Arctic, the violent snowstorm suddenly exhausted its strength under the influence of the severe cold, and at the first light of dawn, it was calm again.