Chapter 47 Chapter 15 The Road to the Northwest

The next day, Bell, Altamon and the doctor boarded the "Perboise".There was no shortage of timber, and old three-masted ships wrecked by ice could provide bodies for new ones.The carpenter immediately went to work, and the boat to be built must be able to withstand the impact of the waves and be light enough to be carried away on a sled. In the last few days of May, the temperature rises, the thermometer rises back to the thaw temperature, spring returns, and this time winter hunters can take off their winter clothes. It rains often, and the snow falls like a waterfall, taking advantage of the occasional slope of the land.

Hatteras couldn't contain his joy at seeing the glacier showing signs of thawing.The free sea was freedom to him. If his pioneers got it wrong on the big question of the polar basin, that was what he wanted to know more than anything else, and all the success of his plan lay in it. That night, after a warm day, when the signs of melting were more evident, the captain began to discuss the subject of the free sea, which was of great interest to all. He repeated the series of reasons with which he was well acquainted, and maintained that the doctor was an ardent supporter of his theory.Still, there is some truth to his conclusions.

"Obviously," he said, "if the ice of the ocean facing Victoria Bay melts, then the south of it as far as New Cornua and the Queen's Canal are free seas. Both Benny and Bilcher saw this, and they Definitely saw it." "So do I, Hatteras," replied the doctor, "that there is nothing to cast doubt on the good intentions of these fine sailors. In vain some have tried to explain their findings as mirages. But they appear so certain that the facts became less convincing." "I've always thought that," said Altamon, "that the polar basins extend not only to the west, but also to the east."

"It may be assumed," Hatteras replied. "It should be assumed," said the American again, "that what Benny and Captain Bilcher saw off the coast of Grinnell, Captain Kane also saw in the strait named after his brave scholar!" "We're not in the Cairn Sea right now," Hatteras said, "so we can't verify the facts." "But at least we can assume that," Altamon said. "Of course," said the doctor, wanting to avoid a pointless debate, "Altamon's idea should be the truth. Unless the special geographical location of the nearby area is different, generally the same phenomenon can occur at the same latitude Yes. I also believe in the saying that the east and west are free seas."

"It doesn't matter much to us anyway!" said Hatteras. "I disagree with you, Hatteras," the American continued. "It is of considerable importance to us." "When will I ask you?" "When we go back." "Go back!" cried Hatteras. "Who would have thought?" "No one," said Altamon, "but shall we stop somewhere?" "Where?" asked Hatteras. For the first time, the question was posed directly to the Americans.The doctor was eager to interrupt the argument. Altamon did not answer, and the captain raised it again.

"Where?" he asked. "Where we go!" the American replied calmly. "Who knows?" The doctor wanted to be a peacemaker. "I think," continued Altamon, "that if we want to use the Polar Basin as our way back, we shall try to get to the Cairn Sea, which will take us more directly to the Baffin Sea." "You think so?" said the captain mockingly. "I think so, and I also think that if these polar seas are navigable, we can go back this way, which is more direct. Dr Kane's discovery is a great one!" "Indeed!" Hatteras bit his lips bleeding when he said this.

"Yes," said the doctor, "we cannot deny the fact. Whoever deserves his credit." "Before this fine sailor," went on the obstinate American, "no one went farther north." "I hope so," said Hatteras, "now that the English have caught up with him!" "And the Americans!" said Altamon. "American!" Hatteras replied. "Who am I?" said Altamon proudly. "You are," Hatteras could hardly contain himself, "a man who divides honor equally between accident and science! Your American captain has traveled far north, but that is only accident... "

"By chance!" exclaimed Altamon, "you dare to say that his knowledge and courage were not worthy of such a great discovery?" "I mean," argued Hatteras, "that the name Cain is not worth mentioning in this place, where these seas were discovered by Parry, Franklin, Ross, Belcher, Benny, The seas opened up the North West Channel for the Englishman Mike Krull..." "Mike Krull!" retorted the American vehemently. "You still mention this man, and you object to the benefits of chance? Didn't chance help him?" "No," said Hatteras excitedly, "it's his courage, his perseverance to survive four winters in the ice and snow..."

"I believe," said the American, "that he was trapped, and that he could not come back. In the end he had to abandon his ship, the Prospector, to return to England." "My friends..." said the doctor. "Besides," Altamon interrupted him, "we don't talk about people, we look at the results. You talked about the North-West Road, well said, this road has yet to be discovered!" Hatteras jumped up at this remark, for there was never a more irritating question between these two hostile peoples. The doctor still wanted to interject. "You are mistaken, Altamon," he said.

"I'm not wrong, I stand by my opinion," said the stubborn man, "the North-West Strait is yet to be discovered, to be crossed, if you prefer to put it that way! way, a ship from the Bering Strait did not reach the Baffin Sea!" Generally speaking, this is the case.What can be the answer to the Americans? Hatteras stood up and said: "I cannot bear the honor of an English captain to be attacked for long in my presence!" "You can't bear it," the American stood up, "but the facts are here, and your power cannot destroy these facts."

"Sir!" Hatteras turned pale with anger. "My friends," said the doctor, "be calm! We are discussing science!" Good Crawford would not like to see a scientific controversy mixed with the mutual hatred of an American and an Englishman. "I'll tell you the truth," said Hatteras menacingly, unable to hear anything. "I'll tell!" the American retorted. Johnson and Bell were at a loss. "Gentlemen," cried the doctor, "you let me speak! I want to speak. I know the facts better than you. Allow me to speak impartially." "Yes, yes!" Johnson and Bell said repeatedly. They were worried about the development of the situation and formed a united front with the doctor. "Go ahead, Crawford," said Johnson, "these gentlemen will learn from you, and all of us will benefit." "Speak!" said the American. Hatteras sat down, and with a gesture of assent, he folded his arms. "I will tell you the truth," said the doctor, "and you may correct me if I omit or falsify a detail." "We know you well, Mr. Crawburn," said Bell, "you don't have to worry about it, just say so." "Here is a map of the polar seas," said the doctor. "It is easy to find Mike Krull's voyage on the map, and you can judge from this." Spreading out on the table a map published by the Admiralty, containing the latest discoveries in the Arctic, the doctor went on: "You know that in 1848 two ships sailed to the Bering Strait to find Franklin, the 'Plover', captained by Calais, and the 'Plover', commanded by Captain Moore. Their search was fruitless. In 1850 they were joined by Mike Krull under the command of the Prospector. The ship took part in the campaign of 1849 under the command of James Ross. He His superior, Captain Collinson, followed with the Enterprise, but he reached the Bering Strait before Collinson. He claimed that he could not wait long, and that he was going out alone and at his own risk. Listen, Altamon. Know my word, and he will discover Franklin and the Northwest Channel." Altamon expressed neither his consent nor his disapproval. "August 5th, 1850," said the doctor, "Mike Krull, after making his last contact with the Plover, proceeded by an unknown road to the sea to the east; you see, the place marked on the map Rarely. On 30th August the young officer recorded Cape Baturst, and on 6th September he discovered Bering Island, and made it clear that it belonged to the Banks Islands, and found Arbor Prince of Wales Island. So he decided to take this long strait that separates the two large islands, and he named it the Prince of Wales Channel. Let us use the power of imagination to enter this strait with brave navigators! He hopes to start from Melville Sea, through which we have crossed, is justified in his hope. However, the ice at the end of the channel presents an insurmountable obstacle. The blocked Mike Krull in the winter of 1850-1851 During this time he crossed the great ice to ascertain the connection of the Channel with the Melville Sea." "Yes," said Altamon, "but he did not travel through time." "Wait," said the doctor, "During the winter, Mike Krull's men ran all over the nearby coasts, such as Claysville, Bering, Hurstwirt, Prince Albert in the south, Volker Point. In July, as the thaw began, Mike Krull made a second attempt to steer the Prospector into Melville Sea, and he made 20 knots, just 20 knots! But the wind Taking him south, he could not get past this obstacle. He decided to go down the Prince of Wales Channel again, round Banks Island, and try to do from the west what he had failed to do from the east. He turned the ship He recorded Clay Island on the 18th, and Prince Alfred Island, which was two degrees higher, on the 19th. After a tenacious struggle with the ice, he was stranded on the road to Banks Island, which is the road to Bakers Island. At the mouth of a series of straits in the Finnish Sea." "He has not been able to pass through them," answered Altamon. "Take it easy and have the patience of Mike Krull. On September 26th he anchored for the winter at Marthy Bay, north of Banks Island, where he remained until 1852. Here comes April, Mike Krull There is only enough food left to last 18 months. But he doesn't want to go home, he's off again. He crosses the Bunkers Strait to Melville Island. Let's follow him. He's looking forward to being here On the 28th of April he came to Winter-Harbor, where Captain Parry had 33 years before Wintered here. But he didn't find a boat, just found a document in the rocks, the document said that Mike Clindock, Austin's second officer, passed by this place last year, and then left. Other people Desperate for sure, but Mike Krull was not. He put a new document in the pile of stones, and in it he wrote that he wanted to get from Lancaster Sound and Baffin Sea by the Northwest Way he had discovered. Back in England. If he is never heard from again, he may have gone north or west of Melville Island and returned to Melsea Bay for a third winter, 1852-53 He did not lose heart this winter." "I never doubted his mettle," Altamon said, "but his success." "Go on with him," replied the doctor. "By March there was only two-thirds of the food left, and the winter was very cold and there was no game. Mike Krull decided to send half the crew back to England, or from the Baffin Sea, or from the Mackenzie and Hudson Bay. The other half of the crew took the Prospector to Europe. He selected the weakest crew for whom the fourth winter would be It was fatal. Their departure was scheduled for April 15th, and everything was ready. But on the 6th, Mike Krull was walking on the ice with his second mate, Cresswell, when he saw a man Running from the north, dancing and dancing. This man is Pym, second mate on the Herald, Captain Calais' second mate, who left Pym in the Bering Sea two years ago, as I began So said. When Calais arrived in Winter-Harburg, he found the papers left by Mike Krull and learned of his situation in Mersey Bay, so he sent his second mate, Pym, to meet the brave man. Captain Pym led a crew of the Herald, among whom was a French lieutenant, M. de Bray, who served as a volunteer under the command of Captain Calais. You do not doubt the fact of this encounter with our countrymen ?” "No doubt," said Altamon. "Let's see what happens later, whether this Northwest route is really open. Note that if we connect Parry's discovery with Mike Krull's discovery, we will find that the ship has circled the Americas. North Shore." "But not a ship," said Altamon. "Not a ship, but a man. Let's go on. Mike Krull went to Melville Island to visit Captain Calais. He covered the 170 miles between Melsea Bay and Winter-Harburg in 12 days. at sea. He negotiated with the ship 'Herald', handed over his patients to the captain, and he came back. Others would have been content with what they had done, but the brave Mike Krull The young man still wants to take another risk. Here I want to remind you to pay special attention. His second officer, Cresswell, accompanied the sick and disabled of the "Prospector" from Marsh Bay to Wenzhou. Harburg, and from there sailed 470 nautical miles on ice to Beecher Island on 2 June, and boarded the Flix with his 12 crew." "I was," Johnson said, "just working with Captain Eaglefield, and we came back to England." "October 7th, 1853," continued the doctor, "Cresswell crossed the whole distance from the Bering Strait to Farewell to London." "Then," said Hatteras, "arriving on one side and going out the other, is that called crossing?" "Yes," said Altamon, "but 470 nautical miles on ice." "Hey! What's the big deal?" "That's the point," replied the American, "Has Mike Krull's ship crossed?" "No," replied the doctor, "after the fourth winter Mike Krull had to abandon his ship in the ice." "In navigation, ships should pass, not people. If the Northwest Road is feasible, it should be passed by ships, not sledges. Therefore, ships should be used to complete the voyage. If there are no ships, use small boats. " "Boat!" Hatteras called, realizing the meaning of the American's words. "Altamon," said the doctor hastily, "your distinction is so childish that we think you are quite mistaken in this respect." "It's not hard for you guys," Altamon said. "You're four to one. But I still stand by my opinion." "You keep your opinion," said Hatteras, "we won't listen to you any more." "What right do you have to talk to me like that?" the American exclaimed angrily. "Captain's power!" Hatteras also roared angrily. "Should I follow your orders?" retorted Altamon. "Undoubtedly! Unlucky for you, if..." The doctor, Johnson, and Bell all stepped forward to intervene.The two enemies glared at each other, and the doctor was so nervous that his heart was about to jump out. After everyone's mediation, Altamon went to bed blowing the American national anthem, whether he fell asleep or not, anyway, he didn't say a word. Hatteras came out of the tent and took a long walk outside. He didn't come back until an hour later, and fell asleep without saying anything.