Chapter 9 Chapter Nine: The Storm on the Lake

The old sailor was waiting impatiently for their return. Indeed, for nearly an hour the climate had changed.Sudden changes in weather do worry a man accustomed to watch the weather.The sun shrouded in dense fog is like a whitish disc, without light or light.The breeze blows gently, but the lake can be heard roaring to the south.The symptoms of this impending climate change are developing extremely rapidly at high latitudes. "Let's go, Mr. Lieutenant, let's go!" Old Norman looked anxiously at the heavy fog above his head and called. "Let's go! Don't delay any longer! The sky is about to change."

"Indeed," answered Jasper Hobson, "the weather has changed altogether, and we have not noticed the change." "So you're afraid of a storm?" the traveler asked Norman. "Yes, ma'am," replied the old sailor, "the storms at Bear Lake are usually terrible. Here they are as fast as in the Atlantic. This sudden fog is not a good sign. At any rate, the storm may be in the We should be back at Fort Confidance by three or four hours, and by then we should be back at Fort Confidence. But let's start without delay, for the boat is not very safe going over the rocky edge which is level with the lake."

Lieutenant Hobson could not discuss these matters with Norman, who knew more than he did.The old sailor had been ferrying the lake for a long time, and was a man of practical experience.Therefore, reference should be made to his experience.Lady Polina Barnet and Jasper Hobson embarked. And yet, as he untied the cable and pushed the boat into the lake, Norman—did he have a hunch? — murmured: "Maybe it's better to wait!" Upon hearing this, Jasper Hobson looked at the old sailor who was already at the helm, and if he were alone, he would have set off without hesitation.But the presence of Paulina Barnett told him to proceed with caution.The lady traveler understood her companion's hesitation.

"Leave me alone, Mr. Hobson," she said, "act as if I were not there. If this brave sailor thinks it time to go, let's go." "Fate!" Norman replied, and untied the cable. "We took a short cut back to the fort." The boat sails into the lake.For an hour, the boat traveled a little.The sails will be full, flapping the mast in the gale of erratic wind.The fog became thicker.The small boat was tossed and tossed by the waves as the sea "felt" the approaching storm in the air.The two passengers said nothing, while the old sailor squinted and tried to see through the fog.Besides, he was ready for every event, and he held on to the rigging, waiting for the wind, and letting go if it came suddenly.

Up until this point, though, there had been no fights, and if the boat sailed smoothly, all the better.However, the boat sailed for an hour and was less than two miles away from the Indian camp. The wind was really erratic and weak.Besides, the nasty land winds drove the boat towards the center of the lake, and in this foggy weather the shore was almost invisible.This is really troublesome, because if the north wind keeps blowing, this easy-drifting canoe cannot control its direction and is in danger of being blown far away. "We can hardly walk!" said the lieutenant to old Norman.

"Barely moving, Mr. Hobson," answered the sailor. "The wind is erratic, and when it is fixed, it is likely to come from an unfavorable direction. Then," he added, pointing to the south, "we may not be able to return to Confey when we return." Will see Fort Franklin before Fort!" "Then," joked Paulina Barnett, "we'll be able to visit the whole lake. Big Bear Lake is beautiful and worth a visit from north to south! I think, Norman, we'll return from Fort Franklin, Right!" "Yes, ma'am, if we can get there," said old Norman, "but storms on the lake often last for a fortnight, and if we are unlucky enough to get to the south shore, I can't guarantee that Jasper Hobson will The Lieutenant will be back at Fort Confidance within a month."

"Be careful, then," replied the lieutenant, "for it will seriously affect our plans. Be careful, my friend, and get back to the North Shore as soon as possible if need be. I don't think Mrs. Polina Barnett will back down." , can walk twenty to twenty-five miles and drive back." "I'd love to get back to the North Shore, Mr. Hobson," Norman replied. "Not now, you see, the wind seems to be set this way. All I can do is try to get to that northeast headland, and if the wind doesn't Bigger, I hope it goes well.” However, at about 4:30, the storm came.There was a sharp sound of wind echoing high in the sky, the wind was still high, and it would not reach the lake, but it was almost too soon, through the thick fog came the screams of frightened birds, and then, suddenly the thick fog tore, and large black clouds fell low The clouds that were torn into shreds were blowing violently to the south.The old sailor's fears became reality.The north wind is howling, and soon it will become a storm and come to the lake.

"Careful!" Norman shouted, pulling the rigging so that the boat stood upright under the rudder. The storm is coming.The boat fell to one side first, then turned around again, jumping on the crest of the waves.From then on, the waves were as rough as the sea.At the bottom of this relatively not very deep lake, big waves fell heavily, and then bounced back to extremely high waves. "Help, help!" cried the old sailor, trying to lower the sail hastily. Jasper Hobson and Lady Paulina Barnett tried to help Norman, but to no avail, as neither of them were very good at sailing.Since Norman could not let go of the tiller, and the halyards were at the top of the mast, the sail could not be lowered.The boat is always in danger of capsizing, and huge waves have already overflowed the side of the boat.The sky was dark and getting darker.The cold rain poured down with snowflakes, the wind roared, and the waves splashed wildly.

"Chop! Chop!" cried the old sailor, amidst the roar of the storm. Jasper Hobson, wind ruffling his hair and rain blinding his eyes, grabbed Norman's knife and cut the sling like a harp string.But the wet cables were immobile in the pulleys, and the beams were hoisted atop the mast. So Norman wanted to retreat, to retreat to the south, since he could not go against the wind; Danger on the southern shore of the lake! Jasper Hobson and his brave female companion realize the danger that threatens them.The flimsy boat could not long withstand the pounding of the waves.The ship either crashed or sank.The lives of the passengers on board are in the hands of God.

Neither the Lieutenant, nor Lady Paulina Barnett, however, despaired.They held on to their benches, soaked from head to toe in icy spray baths, drenched in rain and snow, trapped in a gloomy and dreary storm, and stared fearlessly ahead through the thick fog.There was no land in sight.In the same place as the boat, there is only one color of clouds and water.Then their eyes fell on old Norman, who blinked tightly, clenched his teeth, gripped the tiller with both hands nervously, and was still trying to keep the boat going with the wind. The storm was so strong that the out-of-control boat could not last long in this dangerous condition.The oncoming crest inevitably destroys the boat.The tenons were already loose, and if the boat had fallen entirely to the bottom of the crest, it was conceivable that it would not have come up.

"We must retreat, or we must retreat!" the old sailor murmured. He pushed the rudder, let go the rigging, and sailed south, where the jerk of the sail immediately carried the boat away with dizzying speed.But the boundless waves are more flexible and faster, which is a great danger of retreating with the wind.The route the boat sailed was full of big waves, and it was impossible to avoid it.The boat was filled with water and had to be bailed out constantly, otherwise the boat was in danger of sinking.As the boat sails into the lake, the water gets rougher as it gets farther from the shore.There was no shelter, no tree barriers, no hills to keep the storm from raging around the boat.Sometimes a line of clear sky appeared, or rather the fog was removed, and huge icebergs could be seen floating like buoys to the south of the lake under the impetus of strong waves. It was half past five.Neither Norman nor Jasper Hobson could estimate how far they had traveled, nor in which direction the ship was going.They had lost control of the boat, and could only endure the whim of the storm. At this moment, 100 feet behind the boat, a huge wave rose, the white crest of which was clearly visible.In front of the tide, the water surface fluctuated, forming a large whirlpool.All the small waves were blown away by the storm and disappeared.In the swirling vortex, the color of the water is black.The boat sank deep into the bottom of the deepening waves.The big wave was getting closer and crushed all the waves around it; the big wave was pushing into the boat and was going to flatten it.Norman turned his head and watched the big waves coming.Jasper Hobson and Lady Polina Barnett also watched the wave with wide eyes, waiting for the crest to break, but unable to avoid it. The swell did come, with a frightening noise, and it surged over the boat and covered the stern.The hull was slammed.The lieutenant and his female companion couldn't help but uttered a cry, and were buried under Langshan Mountain.They probably thought the boat would sink by then. However, the boat, which was three-quarters full of water, floated up again...but the old sailor was missing! Jasper Hobson let out a cry of despair.Paulina Barnett turned to him. "Norman!" he called, pointing to the empty space in the stern. "Unfortunate man!" murmured the traveler. Jasper Hobson stood with her, risking being thrown from the boat, which was leaping on the crest.But they saw nothing, heard neither cry nor cry.There is nothing on the white surf.The old sailor was buried in the waves. Lady Polina Barnett and Jasper Hobson sat down again on the long board.Now, alone on the boat, they presumably have to save themselves.But neither the lieutenant nor his female companion knew how to sail, and in this unfortunate situation, an experienced sailor would probably have to just make do with it!The boat became a toy for the waves.The sails that are always raised lead the boat to gallop.Can Jasper Hobson keep it under control? What a miserable situation for these two unlucky souls!They're stuck in a blizzard in a flimsy boat, and they can't even steer a boat! "We're done," said the lieutenant. "No, Mr. Hobson," answered brave Paulina Barnett, "we are on our own! Then Heaven will help us!" Jasper Hobson then got to know this brave woman, and now their fate was the same. The most important thing was to get out the water that weighed down the boat.Another big wave will fill the cabin in an instant, and the ship may sink immediately.In addition, when the boat is lighter, it will be easier to float on the waves, and then there will be less danger of it sinking.So Jasper Hobson and Lady Paulina Barnett scooped up the water quickly, for the mere movement of the water could have knocked them over as they marched.It was not an easy job, because at any moment the crest of the waves would rush towards the boat, and one had to always have a wooden spoon in hand to scoop the water.This task is performed exclusively by female travelers.The lieutenant held the tiller and steered the skiff reluctantly with the wind. As if to heighten the danger, night, or not night at all--at this latitude, at this time of year, night lasts only a few hours--at least it was getting darker.The heavy clouds and mist mixed together to form a thick fog, with hardly any blurred light.Beyond the two hulls, nothing could be seen.Once it hits the ice floe, the boat will be smashed to pieces.However, these floating ice blocks may suddenly appear, and at the speed of a small boat, there is no way to avoid them. "Have you lost control of the tiller, Mr. Jasper?" asked Lady Paulina Barnett, during a lull in the storm. "Yes, ma'am," replied the lieutenant, "you should be prepared for the unexpected!" "I'm ready!" replied the brave woman simply. At this time, there was a deafening thunder.The sails that were torn apart by the wind went with the wind like white steam.Driven by the speed, the boat flew for a while; then, the boat stopped suddenly, and the waves shook it to and fro.Jasper Hobson and Lady Paulina Barnett thought it was over!They bumped into each other and fell off the bench, bruising their bodies.There was not a piece of cloth on board that could be used as a sail.Trapped in the dim surf, in a storm of rain and snow, these two unfortunate beings could barely see or hear each other, and felt at any moment the danger approaching.For maybe an hour they just stood there, begging God, and God alone, to save them. How long will they be adrift like this, tossed about by furious waves?Neither Lieutenant Hobson nor Lady Polina Barnet could tell.At this time, the boat was rammed. The boat had just struck a large ice floe,--a great mass of craggy, slippery floating mass, out of hand.The sudden and unexpected impact split the bow of the ship, and the water rushed in. "We're sinking! We're sinking!" cried Jasper Hobson. Indeed, the boat sank, and the water was no longer up to the level of the benches. "Ma'am, ma'am!" cried the lieutenant, "here I am...I will stay...by your side!" "No, Mr. Jasper!" replied Mrs. Polina Barnett. "You can still be saved alone...the two of you will be ruined! Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" "Absolutely not!" cried Lieutenant Hobson. But no sooner had he said the word than another wave hit the boat and it sank straight down. The two disappeared into the vortex caused by the sudden sinking of the ship.After a while, they surfaced again.Jasper Hobson paddled vigorously with one hand and propped up his female partner with the other.It was evident that he would not have long to wrestle with the raging waves, and that he would perish with the man he was trying to save. At this time, a strange sound caught his attention.This is not the cry of a startled bird, but indeed the call of a human voice.With all his strength Jasper Hobson rose to the top of the surf and cast a quick glance around. But in this thick fog he saw nothing.However, he still heard the calls, and they were getting closer.How dare a bold person come to rescue him at this time?However, no matter what they do, I am afraid it will be too late.Confined by his clothes, the Lieutenant felt dragged along with his unfortunate companion, whose head he could no longer keep above the water. Then, instinctively, Jasper Hobson uttered a final roar, and was thrown down by a huge wave. But Jasper Hobson was not mistaken.Three men drifting on the lake spotted the sunken boat and rushed to help it.These men—the only ones who had any chance of successfully battling the roaring waves—were in the only boats capable of withstanding the storm. The three men were Eskimos, and they were fastened to their respective kayaks. "Kayak" is a long canoe, bent at both ends, with a very light frame, stretched with seal skin, and tightly sewn with seal tendons. The top of the "Kayak" boat was also covered with seal skins, with only one opening in the middle.The Eskimo just sat there.He fastened his raincoat to the leather wainscot so that not a drop of water could get in as one with the boat.This supple and light "kajak" is always on top of the waves, unsinkable, perhaps toppled,--but recovers easily with a stroke of the oars--indeed, it always stands up to any situation , even in places where lifeboats are bound to crash. The three Eskimos reached the wreck just in time, having heard the lieutenant's last cries of despair.Jasper Hobson and Lady Polina Barnet were out of breath, yet they felt a strong hand lift them from the abyss, but in the gloom they could not make out Who is the savior. One Eskimo caught the lieutenant and laid him across in his boat, another in the same way rescued Mrs. Polina Barnett, and the three Kayaks, drawn by six-foot oars, Driving nimbly, quickly passing through the waves. Half an hour later, the two shipwrecked were placed on the beach three nautical miles downstream of Fort Providence. Only the old sailor did not survive!

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