Chapter 48 Chapter 16 North Pole Ravine

On May 29th, the sun did not set for the first time. The round sun set on the edge of the sky, and then rose again after slightly brushing the horizon. People entered a 24-hour day.On the second day, the sun was surrounded by a beautiful halo, which shone with colorful brilliance.The occurrence was so frequent that it attracted the attention of the doctor, who has been recording the timing, size and appearance of the halos.The halo he observed that day took on a rare shape. Soon all kinds of birds came chirping again, flocks of great bustards and Canada geese came from far away places like Florida and Arkansas, and rushed northward at high speed, with the breath of spring under their wings.The doctor hunted several of them, and he also killed three or four precocious cranes and a lone stork.

Under the sunshine, the snow on all sides began to melt.Seawater gushing from crevasses and seal holes accelerates the melting of the ice.Ice that melts with seawater forms a dirty paste known to Arctic navigators as "slucy."The land around the bay became a vast swamp, growing like an arctic spring creature. The doctor planted his plants again, he had no shortage of seeds, and he was amazed to see a kind of acid film grow in the cracks of the stone, and he marveled at the creativity of nature, which took advantage of any opportunity to show itself.He sowed the watercress seeds, and three weeks later the seedlings were ten francs (an ancient French unit of length, or about 2.25 millimeters) long.

The bushes, too, began to coyly reveal small, almost colorless buds.In short, the New World seems to be able to grow plants, and these rare plants look so pleasing to the eye.That's all the little sunlight can give, and this is the last memory of God, who has not forgotten this far-off land. Later, the weather got really hot. On June 15, the doctor saw that the thermometer indicated 14°C.He couldn't believe his eyes, but the truth was right in front of him.The entire region has changed dramatically: countless waterfalls roar and cascade down sunlit mountaintops; the ice is melting, and the great problem of the Free Sea is finally solved.The air was filled with the sound of huge avalanches rolling down the ravine from the top of the mountain, and the cracking of the ice was also loud.

We went to Johnson Island, which is an inconspicuous island, steep and desolate.But the old boatswain was still very happy to name these reefs in the sea with his own name. He even wanted to engrave his name on a protruding reef, but almost fell to his death. Hatteras walked carefully to identify these areas beyond Cape Washington.The melting of the ice visibly altered the appearance of these regions, revealing ravines and hills that had been covered with snow like plains. The houses seemed to be falling apart, and constant renovations were needed to bring them back to their original condition.Fortunately, temperatures of 14°C are rare here, with average temperatures slightly above freezing.

Around June 15th, the construction of the small boat was progressing rapidly, and initial results had been seen.Bell and Johnson were busy building boats, while the others went hunting, and the harvest was rich.They hunted reindeer, an animal that is difficult to approach.Altamon used the method of his native Indians: lying on the ground, with his arm raised, he aimed his gun at the horns of the four-legged animal's head, and in this way he shot at a long range and hit every shot with success. The best game, though, was the musk ox, of which Parry had seen herds on Melville Island.In Victoria Bay, these musk oxen are rarely seen.Everyone decided to go further, not only wanting to catch this precious animal, but also wanting to discover the land of the East.Hatteras did not contemplate reaching the North Pole via this part of the continent, but the doctor was glad to have a general idea of ​​the region.So everyone decided to go to the east of the Citadel.Altamon wanted to hunt, and of course Dak wanted to join.

On Monday, June 17, the weather was fine and the thermometer read 5°C.Fresh air.The three hunters each held a two-shot shotgun, a small axe, and a snow knife, and left the "doctor's house" at 6 am, followed by Darke.They are equipped with such equipment as they are going on a three- or four-day long trip, so they have brought enough food. At 8 o'clock in the morning, Hatteras and his two companions walked nearly 7 miles.Not a single game hit their muzzles yet, and their hunt looked like it was turning into an excursion. This new region is the Great Plains that stretch as far as the eye can see.Here and there were brooks and marshes formed yesterday, great swamps glistening in the sun like ponds.The melted ice forms underfoot sedimentary soil, which is formed by the action of water and covers a wide area of ​​the earth's surface.

People also saw some huge glacial boulders with particularly strange shapes, and it is difficult to explain the appearance of these stones.There are slate and limestone everywhere, especially a lot of strange, transparent and colorless crystal stones, which have the unique luster of Icelandic stones. Although the doctor did not hunt, he was still unable to do geological work, and he trotted as a scholar, because his companions walked fast.Nevertheless, he studied the geology incessantly, and talked to his companions as much as he could, without whom absolute silence would surely have been maintained.Altamon had no desire to speak to the captain, and the captain would not answer him.

By 10 am, the hunters had traveled about 12 miles east.The sea is hidden from the horizon, and the doctor proposes to take a break and have lunch.Everyone finished eating quickly, and set off again half an hour later. The land descends in a gentle slope.Pieces of snow due to the shape of the rocks make the ground undulating, as if waves blown by a strong wind on the sea. The region always appeared to be a barren plain, and there was no sign of wild animals. Altamon said to the doctor: "It is evident that we have had bad luck hunting. It seems that this place provides little food for the beasts. However, the beasts of the polar regions have no right to be too fastidious, and should be more easygoing."

"Let us not lose heart," replied the Doctor, "that the summer is just beginning, and if Parry has encountered many different beasts at Melville Island, there is no reason why we should not encounter them here." "We're further north, though," Hatteras said. "Of course, but north is only a word in this matter. We should be thinking about the North Pole, which is the ice and snow where we and the "Forward" spend the winter here. Besides, the further we go, the distance from the coldest place on earth The farther we go, the more we should be able to find what Parry, Ross, and the other navigators found there."

"Anyway," said Altamon with a sigh, "we are travelers now, not hunters." "Be patient," said the doctor. "The country is gradually changing, and I'm sure we'll be able to catch game where there's vegetation growing in some ravines." "It should be admitted," insisted the American, "that the region through which we pass is a no-man's-land and an uninhabitable place." "Ah! Uninhabitable! Seriously," said the doctor, "I do not believe that there are places that are uninhabitable. Man can, through the labor of one generation after another, use all the resources of agriculture, to make such desolate regions fertile."

"Do you really think so?" asked Altamon. "Yes! If you go to those famous places in the beginning of the world, to places like Babylon, to the fertile valleys where our ancestors lived, you will feel that it is impossible for people to live in such places. Since human beings left, there The air in the world has become stale. It is the laws of nature that make uninhabited or no longer inhabited areas dirty and barren. Please remember this, it is man himself who, through his being, his Habit, his skill to build his home, I even say by his breath. He gradually changed the smell and the environment of the land, he purified what he breathed! Therefore, you say that there are uninhabited areas, I agree , but to say that there are uninhabitable areas, I absolutely do not agree." These hunters became naturalists, and they went on, and they came to a valley, which was very wide, and at the bottom of the valley was a river, whose water had thawed.The valley faces south, so there are some plants growing on the sides and sides of the valley.The land still looks fertile.There were some green valleys that seemed to be in labor, and the doctor pointed out these obvious signs. "Look," said the doctor, "can't some daring pioneers settle down in this valley? With their own ability and perseverance, they can completely change this place, and I don't mean temperate." Fields, but a decent place. Hey! There are four-legged inhabitants, if I'm not mistaken!" "My God! These are ibexes," cried Altamon, raising his gun. "Wait," said the doctor, "wait a minute, you crazy hunter! These poor animals don't even try to run away! Look, they're coming towards us!" There were indeed three or four kids walking towards the three hunters through the undergrowth and the new moss, and they did not seem to be afraid of their presence.They ran merrily, but did not make Altamon lay down his arms. They soon came to the doctor, who stroked them and said: "Why shoot these little animals that need to be petted? Killing them won't do us any good." "You're right, Doctor," said Hatteras, "that they should be kept alive." "And these redshanks lumbering along on long legs!" cried Altamon. A flock of feathered birds approached the hunters, unaware of the danger the doctor had just spoken of.Dak was also dumbfounded in astonishment. The spectacle is both strange and moving, these beautiful animals leaping and hopping unsuspectingly, they perch on Croubney's shoulders, play at his feet, willingly accept the hunter's caresses, they seem to be passionately Welcome these strange guests.Flocks of birds sang happily and flew from all directions in the valley.Doctor like a real wizard.The hunters continued along the bank, followed by the great flock of birds. At the corner of the small valley, they saw a caravan of seven or eight reindeer eating lichen half buried under the snow.These animals look very charming, graceful, and serene, with the female as well as the male, with serpentine side shoots bordered on them, their coat color looks like wool, and has replaced the winter white with the summer brown and light gray; They do not appear to be any more easily frightened, or more difficult to tame, than the hares or birds of this peaceful country.This is the relationship between the first man and the first animals at the beginning of the world. The hunters came among the deer, and they did not escape even a step; this time the doctor had a hard time restraining Altamon's instincts; the American could not watch these graceful prey in peace without feeling bloodthirsty thought.Hatteras looked excitedly at the gentle animals, who rubbed their nostrils against the coat of the doctor, who was the friend of all animals. "But anyway," said Altamon, "we're not here to hunt?" "For musk oxen," replied Crawford, "and nothing else! We don't know what the game is for, and we have plenty of food, so let's enjoy the touching spectacle of this man playing with these peaceful animals, a little. Don't make them afraid either." "It proves that they've never seen a human," Hatteras said. "Obviously," replied the doctor, "from this observation it follows that the animals did not originate in America." "Why?" said Altamon. "If they were born on the continent of North America, they would know what the two-handed, bipedal mammals called man think, and it seems to us that they must escape! No, they may come from the north, they were born in our The strange regions of Asia, unapproached by their own kind, crossed the continents near the pole. So, Altamon, you have no right to call them countrymen." "Oh!" said Altamon, "a hunter does not investigate so carefully. The game always belongs to the country of the man who killed it!" "Well, be still, my good Namrod! It seems to me that I would rather never shoot a shot in my life than let these lovely creatures be frightened. Behold! Dak and these beautiful animals Brotherhood. Believe me, be compassionate, if possible, compassion is a strength!" "Well, well," replied Altamon, who did not quite understand the feeling, "but I would like to see you use mercy as a weapon among bears or wolves!" "Oh! I didn't speak of enchanting beasts of prey," answered the doctor. "I don't much believe in Orpheus's witchcraft; after all, bears and wolves don't treat us like hares, partridges, and reindeer." "Why not," answered Altamon, "if they have never seen a man?" "For the nature of these animals is ferocious, and ferocity, like malice, arouses suspicion; this is something the observant man readily observes in man and in animals. Ferocity breeds mistrust, and in him who arouses fear, fear also It's easy to find him." This little lesson of natural philosophy closes the conversation. The whole day was spent in the canyon which the doctor called Northern Arcadia, and his companions had no objection at all. When night came, the three hunters ate a meal that did not cost the lives of the inhabitants of this area. For the price of dinner, they slept in the crevices of the rocks, as if it was a comfortable shelter specially provided for them.

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