| | 1 | Author: | Doyle, Arthur Conan | Add | | | Title: | The Captain of the Polestar and other Tales  | | | | Published: | 1995 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | September 11th.—Lat. 81° 40' N.; long. 2° E. Still
lying-to amid enormous ice fields. The one which stretches away
to the north of us, and to which our ice-anchor is attached,
cannot be smaller than an English county. To the right and left
unbroken sheets extend to the horizon. This morning the mate
reported that there were signs of pack ice to the southward.
Should this form of sufficient thickness to bar our return, we
shall be in a position of danger, as the food, I hear, is
already running somewhat short. It is late in the season, and
the nights are beginning to reappear. This morning I saw a star
twinkling just over the fore-yard, the first since the beginning
of May. There is considerable discontent among the crew, many of
whom are anxious to get back home to be in time for the herring
season, when labour always commands a high price upon the Scotch
coast. As yet their displeasure is only signified by sullen
countenances and black looks, but I heard from the second mate
this afternoon that
they contemplated sending a deputation to the Captain to explain
their grievance. I much doubt how he will receive it, as he is a
man of fierce temper, and very sensitive about anything
approaching to an infringement of his rights. I shall venture
after dinner to say a few words to him upon the subject. I have
always found that he will tolerate from me what he would resent
from any other member of the crew. Amsterdam Island, at the
north-west corner of Spitzbergen, is visible upon our starboard
quarter—a rugged line of volcanic rocks, intersected by white
seams, which represent glaciers. It is curious to think that at
the present moment there is probably no human being nearer to us
than the Danish settlements in the south of Greenland—a good
nine hundred miles as the crow flies. A captain takes a great
responsibility upon himself when he
risks his vessel under such circumstances. No whaler has ever
remained in these latitudes till so advanced a period of the
year. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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