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

Chapter 19 - The March Towards the Pole

Next day in the morning, Hatteras gave the signal to leave. The dogs were harnessed to the sleigh; well fed, well rested, after a winter spent in comfortable conditions, they had no reason to not bring great services during summer. So, they weren't asked at all to put on the travel harness. After all, these Greenlandic dogs were some good animals; their wild nature changed little by little; they lost their similarity to wolves, to approach Duk, the perfect model of the canine race: in a word, they civilized.

Duk could, certainly, pretend a part of their education; he gave them a lesson on good conduit and offered his own example; as a British dog, very pretentious regarding the "protocol", he needed a long time to familiarize with some dogs that "weren't presented to him" and, principally, didn't give them attention, but, because they were forced to share the same dangers, same lacking, same fate, animals of different breeds got closer little by little. Duk, having a good soul, made the first step and all the four-legged living things soon became a group of friends.

The doctor caressed the Greenlandic dogs and Duk observed without jealousy how fondle his kind is.

They left at 6 AM, on nice weather, after detouring the gulf and overtaking Washington Cape, they went directly towards the north, at Hatteras's order; at 7 AM, the travelers left towards the south the lighthouse's cone and Fort Providence. The journey was announced auspiciously, better than the expedition undertaken in full winter to find the coal. Hatteras then left behind him, onboard his ship, the revolt and desperation, without being certain of the target towards which he was headed; he abandoned a half-frozen crew; he, the north's man, returned south! Now, on the contrary, surrounded by vigorous and healthy friends, supported, encouraged, he headed towards the pole, towards the target of his entire life! Never a man has ever got close to reaching this immense glory for his country and himself!

Was he maybe thinking at all these things inspired by the current situation? The doctor liked to presume he was thinking and couldn't have any doubt on this regard, especially that he saw him so inflamed. The good Clawbonny enjoyed everything that his friend enjoyed and, after the reconciliation between the two captains, of his two friends, he was the happiest man, since those thoughts of hate, jealousy, competition were very foreign to him. What would happen with them, which would result from this journey? He didn't know; but, finally, it began good. It sufficed.

The western coast of New America prolonged towards east, through a series of gulfs, beyond Washington Cape; the travelers, to avoid this massive curve, after traversing the first slopes of Bell-Mount, they headed north, going on the upper plateaus. It was a considerable economy on the road; Hatteras wanted, expecting the appearance of unforeseen obstacles through straits and mountains, to draw a straight line of three hundred and fifty miles from Fort Providence to the pole.

The journey unfolded with ease; the tall plains were some stretched white carpets, of which the sleigh, with its polished soles, glides without weight, and the people, in winter boots, could go quickly and safely.

The thermometer indicated 37 degrees Fahrenheit (+3 degrees Celsius). The weather was variable, either clear or foggy; but neither the cold or cyclones wouldn't stop the very determined travelers. The path was easy; the compass's needle wasn't so lazy once departing from the magnetic pole; now it didn't hesitate. Besides, the doctor imagined a fairly simple means of marking, which avoided the continued use of the compass; once the position was stabile, the travelers observed, when it was clear, an object placed exactly north and situated at two or three miles ahead; they approached it till they reached it; then, they chose another point of landmark in the same direction and so on. Thus, they deviated very little from the right path.

During the journey's first days they advanced around twenty miles in twelve hours; the rest of the time was dedicated to resting and meals; the tent was sufficient to protect them against the cold in the moments of sleep.