Chapter 34 Chapter Eleven Hobson Tells the Truth

This is the current situation.In Sergeant Long's words, the island had "broken down," it had stopped, just as the isthmus had connected it to the American continent.But this time it is 600 miles away from inhabited land, and these 600 miles have to be crossed by sledge on the frozen sea, in the coldest season in the Arctic Ocean region, among the icebergs condensed by severe cold! What a terrible thing this is, but no hesitation or wavering is allowed.The winter that Lieutenant Hobson had been looking forward to so much had finally arrived.This winter halted the catastrophic drift of the island to the north; this winter will build a bridge of 600 miles between the island and the adjacent mainland!This new opportunity must be seized to bring people stranded in the Arctic back home.

Indeed—so Lieutenant Hobson explained to his friends—the ice would not be able to melt until next spring, which meant that it would be possible to drift again with the current of the Bering Sea.Now, just wait for the sea to freeze hard, which is about three or four weeks away.During this period of time, Lieutenant Hobson intends to inspect the conditions of the ice sheets around the island, to find out how strong it is, whether it is beneficial for sledges to travel on it, and to explore the best places to go to the coast of Asia or the American continent. the way. "Needless to say," said Jasper Hobson, speaking of the foregoing with Mrs. Barnett and Sergeant Long, "it goes without saying that, even if the chances were equal, we should have chosen to go to New Georgia rather than to the coast of Asia, or else Just go to Russian America."

"Caluma will be useful in that case," replied Mrs. Barnett, "because, being an Eskimo, she knows the New Georgia area very well." "Yes, very useful," said Lieutenant Hobson, "her presence is God's will. With her we shall easily reach Fort Mitchell, Norton Bay, or, further south, to New Acon. Gill City for the winter." "Poor Fort Hope!" said Mrs. Barnett. "We have worked so hard to build it, Mr. Jasper, what labors you have put into it! And now you are abandoning it, leaving it in the ice and snow." Among them, being thrown among these floes, how can it not make people feel distressed! When we leave, asking me to say goodbye to it will be more uncomfortable than digging out my heart!"

"I can't feel any better, madam," replied Lieutenant Hobson, "and probably more! This is the most important career of my life! I give all my energies and intelligence to the Gave Fort Hope, oh, such an unfortunate name, it would be sad for the rest of my life to give it up now! Besides, how can I explain to the company, which entrusted me with such an important task, and I, as a loyal member of the company, Staff, but..." "The company can only say, Mr. Jasper," Mrs. Barnett cried excitedly, "that the company can only say that you have done your duty and that you are not responsible for the evils that nature has caused us. Resist the forces of nature! The company will understand that you cannot predict what just happened, because that is what people cannot predict. And the company people will also know that it is precisely because of your cautious and persistent qualities , so that the company did not lose any useful talent!"

"Thank you, ma'am," replied the Lieutenant, shaking Mrs Barnet's hand, "thank you for your heartfelt words, but I know those people, believe me, people always think success is better than failure. Anyway, I have no choice but to resign myself to fate!" Sergeant Long wanted to interrupt Lieutenant Hobson's unpleasant thoughts and bring the conversation back to his concern for the present situation; he spoke of preparations for the imminent departure, and finally asked his superiors whether Victoria Island should finally be Tell everyone the real situation. "Wait a little longer," replied Lieutenant Hobson, "we have kept these poor people from needless sorrow by silence, and when we have fixed a date for our departure, we will tell them all. !"

After the opinion was confirmed, the work of the commercial station was still going on in an orderly manner in the next few weeks. And what about the residents of Fort Hope, who have been carefree for a year? A year ago, the first signs of a severe cold season came as usual.A thin layer of ice gradually formed on the coast.The water in the lagoon freezes first because it is calmer than the sea.The temperature during the day is maintained at 1 or 2 degrees above zero, while at night it drops to 3 or 4 degrees below zero.Hobson began to put his men in winter coats, leather jackets and woolen clothing.Condenser installed in house, air receiver and extractor polished.Many traps were laid about the yard and near Bathurst Point, and Sabine and Marbor rejoiced at the return of the hunters.Interior renovation work on the main house has also been completed.

This year, brave folks are still doing it step by step.Although Fort Hope's actual latitude is two degrees higher than it was last year, the temperature is not much different at the beginning of winter.In fact, the difference in average temperature between 70 degrees and 72 degrees north latitude is not very big.People even feel that the coldness of early winter this year is far less than this time last year.But it may also be because the people here have become more adapted to this severe cold climate. It should be noted, however, that the season of inclement weather does not start with its usual bitter cold.The weather is humid, and the atmosphere is saturated with water vapor, which turns into rain and snow for a while.The climate was certainly not as cold as Lieutenant Hobson had expected.

Although the sea around the island is frozen, it is different from previous years, not as regular as before.On the surface of the newly formed ice sheet many large dark spots were visible, indicating that the ice had not yet been solidly frozen.You can also hear the constant cracking of the ice, which is the result of the melting of the ice by the rain.In the past, as long as the severe cold arrived, ice cubes would form and gather immediately, instead of the above situation.Icebergs and even ice mounds are rare, and there are no ice floes in the sky. "This season," Sergeant Long used to say, "has not disappointed those explorers looking for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole at all, but it has been very bad for our plans and return!"

Throughout October, Lieutenant Hobson noticed that the average temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius).Everyone knows that the sea can only freeze if the temperature is as low as minus 7 or 8 degrees for a few days. At the same time, both Mrs. Barnett and Lieutenant Hobson knew that the current ice conditions were far from impassable. The fur animals trapped on the island, such as reindeer and wolves, would have escaped if they could escape to low latitudes, which means that they cannot find a safe and feasible way on the freshly frozen sea.Therefore, they have been walking around near the commercial station, preferring to be neighbors with people.Some wolves have come within range of people to hunt mink and arctic hares, their only food at this time.The reindeer gathered in groups to wander around Bathurst Point because they could not find food.A polar bear—likely the one Mrs Barnett and Karuma often miss—would make its way through the bushes by the lagoon.It seems that since all the animals are still here, especially the herbivorous ruminants who are still on Victoria Island in October, it means that they cannot go now.

This average temperature is the temperature at which the ice sheet will still melt.However, Jasper Hobson checked his diary and found that at this time last winter in October, the temperature was minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius).How can it be so different, the climate in this polar region is really strange! People don't feel cold at all, so they don't need to stay in the house or go out.The climate is still very humid, as it often rains with snow mixed with it.The pointer of the barometer is falling, which shows that the content of water vapor in the atmosphere is still high.

Jasper Hobson and Sergeant Long still went out a few times in October to observe conditions around the ice field.One day they came to Cape Mitchell, and another day at Moss Bay, to see if there was a passage, either to the American continent or to the Asian continent, so that a date of departure could be fixed. However, the ice sheet is full of puddles, and there are many cracks in some places, and the sledge must be impassable.It seems that it is also very difficult for travelers to advance on foot in this deserted place, where there is water and ice everywhere.This shows that the weather is not cold enough, not normal.This situation is caused by the uneven temperature of the climate, and various ice edges are erected from all over the ice surface, just like stalactites.This is not at all like a flat field, but more like a glacier, even if it is passable, it is extremely difficult. Lieutenant Hobson and Sergeant Long explore the ice field.They traveled only a mile or two to the south, but it was with great effort and time.They had to admit they had to wait, and they returned to Fort Hope very disappointed. At the beginning of November, the temperature dropped slightly again, but only a few degrees, not low enough.Victoria Island is shrouded in a thick fog.Had to keep lights on throughout the day in the hall.And lamp oil should be very economical, because there are not many stored.Captain Claventi would have brought them provisions, and besides, walruses were no longer hunted, the amphibians no longer approached the island.If this weather continues, the people in the commercial station will have to use animal fat or turpentine for lighting.At this time, the days have become shorter and shorter, and the sun has become a white circle, which has lost its heat and dazzling light, and only appears on the horizon for a few hours before disappearing.yes!This is winter, winter mixed with fog, rain, and snow—but it's not cold enough! On November 11th, the Castle of Hope was in a festive atmosphere. During lunch, Mrs. Jolliff specially cooked some delicious dishes.Because this day is the first birthday of Mike Knapp Jr.The child is in good health and looks very cute, with blond hair and blue eyes.The child is very much like his father, the master craftsman.Dad is also extremely proud that the child is like him.Weighed the child after the meal, look at his naughty appearance!Hear his happy laugh!My God, the child already weighs 34 catties!How amazing, everyone cheers and congratulates Mrs. Mac Knapp!Corporal Jolliff also shared a lot of "honor" because he is the godfather of the child!The corporal used to hold the child, push the cradle to put the child to sleep, and take care of the child. Day 2 was November 12th, and the sun did not appear on the horizon.The polar night has begun, and the long night here is 9 days earlier than last year on the American continent, which is the result of the current latitude of Victoria Island and the American continent. However, the disappearance of the sun did not cause a change in the weather.The temperature is as unpredictable as ever.The temperature dropped on the first day and rose again on the second day.Rain and snow are still falling alternately.The wind is not strong, but the direction is uncertain, and sometimes the weather vane will point in various directions in turn throughout the day.The weather is often very wet, which is terrible, and can cause scurvy in those who spend the winter here.Fortunately, despite the lack of lemon juice, lime juice, there was a good harvest of sorrel and horseradish dishes.These were consumed daily on the advice of Lieutenant Hobson. Above all, however, every effort should be made to leave Fort Hope as soon as possible.At its current position, it may take almost 3 months to reach the nearest landmass.However, once on the road, the most fearful thing is that there will be a big thaw before landing on solid land.If you want to go, you have to wait until the end of November. When it comes to departure, there is naturally no doubt.However, if it is a cold winter and it is already very difficult to move forward on the frozen and hard ice sheet, then the problem will be even more serious if you are on the way back in this climate-changing season. On November 13, Jasper Hobson, Lady Polina Barnett and Sergeant Long met again to work out a date for departure.Sergeant Long's opinion is to leave the island as soon as possible. "Because," he said, "we have to cover six hundred miles, and we have to allow for delays caused by obstacles on the road. We must reach the mainland in March, otherwise we will be even worse off if there is a thaw. It's even worse now." "But," asked Mrs. Barnett, "is the sea frozen solid everywhere for us to pass?" "Of course," replied the sergeant, "the ice is thickening every day, and the air pressure is gradually increasing, which means that the temperature will be getting colder and colder. There is still a week between now and the end of the preparations, and hopefully by then It's going to be very cold." "It doesn't matter!" Lieutenant Hobson said, "the weather is bad this winter, and it's always against us! People have encountered such strange weather in the waters here in the past, and some whalers still sail here. Regardless, I think we have to make the most of each day. I'm just sorry that the normal weather hasn't been helping us." "Will come to help us," said Mrs. Barnett. "Anyway, we must hurry up. Mr. Jasper, what day do you think we should set off on?" "The end of November, that's the latest deadline," Lieutenant Hobson replied, "if we can finish our preparations in eight days' time, around the 20th of this month, and the ice can pass again, I think that if we are lucky, we will depart in time." "Okay," Sergeant Long said, "let's get ready and don't relax for a minute." "So, Mr. Jasper," asked Mrs. Barnett again, "you must tell everyone about our situation?" "Yes, ma'am. It is time to speak, for there must be action now." "Then when are you going to speak?" "Now, Sergeant Long," Hobson said, turning to his men, and Sergeant Long stood at attention immediately. "Go get everyone to gather in the hall, and I'll tell them the situation." Sergeant Long gave a military salute, then mechanically turned back and walked out. For some minutes Mrs Barnet and Lieutenant Hobson remained alone without speaking a word. The sergeant returned shortly afterwards and told Hobson that his orders had been carried out. Immediately Jasper Hobson and the traveler entered the hall. The hall was dimly lit, and all the residents, men and women, of the commercial station had assembled there. Jasper Hobson stepped up among his companions and said solemnly: "My friends, I have always thought that, in order not to worry you, I must not tell you what danger our Fort Hope Merchant station is in... An earthquake has taken us off the mainland... Bathurst The cape has been separated from the American continent... Our peninsula has become an Iceland, a small drifting island..." At this moment, Marbor walked up to Hobson and said in a firm voice: "We already knew, Lieutenant!"