Jules Verne's Captain Hatteras - Part 2: Ice Desert

Chapter 8 - The North of Victoria Gulf

Next day, with the sun's first rays, Clawbonny climbs on the abrupt slopes of the rock wall of which the Doctor's House was leaning; it suddenly ended through a cut cone. The doctor reached the peak with great difficulty and from there his looks observed the twisted and vast terrain, which seemed to be the result of some kind of volcanic eruption; an immense white curvature covered the continent and sea, without the possibility of distinguishing them.

Observing that this culminated point dominated all the surrounding plains, the doctor had an idea and whoever knew him wouldn't be too surprised.

His idea, well-thought, spun and sanded, was presented to his companions, with his return to the snow shelter.

Clawbonny: I was thinking of building a lighthouse at the peak of the cone which rises above us.

The others: A lighthouse?

Clawbonny: Yes, a lighthouse! We'll have a double advantage, that to guide us by night, when we'll return from a long expedition, and the other to light the plateau during the eight months of winter.

Altamont: Certainly, such a device would be very useful; but how do we build it?

Clawbonny: With one of the ship's lanterns.

Altamont: Agreed, but how will you fuel the lantern's lamp? With seal oil?

Clawbonny: No! The light produced by this oil doesn't light up too brightly; it would barely pierce the fog.

Altamont: Do you think you can extract hydrogen from our oil and make gas for illuminating?

Clawbonny: Well, this light is also insufficient and it'd also be the problem that'd consume a big part of our fuel.

Altamont: Then, I don't see how...

Johnson: Personally, since with the mercury bullet, ice lens and the construction of Fort Providence, I believe Mr Clawbonny is capable of anything.

Altamont: Well, tell us what kind of lighthouse do you wish to build?

Clawbonny: It's very simple, an electric lighthouse.

Altamont: An electric lighthouse!

Clawbonny: Without a doubt; don't you have aboard the ship "Porpoise" a Bunsen pill in perfect functional state?

Altamont: Yes.

Clawbonny: Evidently, taking it with you, you thought of an experiment, since nothing is lacking, not even perfectly insulated conductive wires, the acid necessary to make the elements move. Thus, it's very easy to procure some electric currents. We will see better and won't cost us anything.

Johnson: Perfect, perfect, and the less time we waste...

Clawbonny: Well, the materials are here and in one hour we'll raise an ice column of ten feet, which will suffice.

The doctor went out; his comrades followed him to the cone's peak; the column was raised in the shortest time and crowned by one of the ship's lanterns.

Then, the doctor adapted the conductive wires which were attached to the pill; that, situated at the saloon of the Doctor's House, was protected from cold thanks to the stove's warmth. From there, the wires climbed to the lighthouse's lantern.

All of these were quickly installed and then waited for the sunset to enjoy the effect.

By night, the two peaks of carbon, maintained inside the lantern, at a convenient distance, were approached and the beams of a strong light, of which even the wind couldn't modify or extinguish, was fantastic. Johnson couldn't keep himself from applauding.