CHAPTER X.
THE FATE OF THE PENGUIN.
The question of sending an expedition to the scene of the recent volcanic eruptions was discussed by the executive Government at Atazatlan during the early part of the summer. That one, on a small scale, should leave for the purpose of examining and reporting on the changes in the surface of the country in the locality of the earthquake had been a foregone conclusion some little time previous to my arrival in Neuroomia, and had been delayed last summer owing to the time taken up over the trip to the Penguin, Now, however, the project assumed greater proportions, for it was decided, not only to visit the scene of the earthquake, but also the neighbouring icefield, in order to ascertain if the open channel caused by the thermal current still existed. It was to discuss this subject that Onneyubla sent for Yondozi and myself. After some friendly exchanges, we repaired to the Geographer's room at the palace, where the council was to be held.
"Ever since the Penguin reached these shores," observed Onneyubla, "many suggestions have been made concerning the fitting out of an expedition from Neuroomia to visit other lands, and I am inclined to favour the project, for if one ship can arrive here, it is not, I think, unreasonable to suppose that another might be able to depart, and now seems an opportune time for that purpose."
"If the channel is still free from ice," I said, "it should not prove a very difficult task to navigate a vessel to the open seas beyond; but the return journey might prove a hazardous undertaking, for the channel may be frozen over."
"The Government have already had several offers from sea-faring men who are anxious to join the expedition," was the reply, "and it appears to me quite possible they may be able to return in safety, for the country will make strenuous efforts to keep a close look-out for them when they might be expected to return."
I must confess that I did not at first relish the idea of sending an expedition, for I thought it possible they might wish me to take charge of it, a pleasant enough venture, if there happened to be any prospect of returning, but this, however, notwithstanding the President's sanguine expectations, I considered to be very remote.
Onneyubla now came to the rescue by stating that in the event of the departure of an expedition, it was not the desire of the Government, unless I expressly wished it, that I should accompany it.
I replied that I had no longing to leave Neuroomia at present; that I was very happy here, indeed; that it was questionable if I could be more so elsewhere.
Yondozi here interjected that he was ready at any moment to set out to examine the channel and icefield, with a view to ascertain if it were possible for a ship to get through. I observed that I should like to be one of his party, and to this he readily agreed. I was anxious to go with him, partly on account of the change, and partly in the hope of learning something of the Penguin.
"If the vessel should manage to clear the ice in safety, would it take them long to reach another continent?" inquired Onneyubla.
"No," I answered. "Australia and South America are not far distant, and perhaps they could make Tasmania or New Zealand in even a shorter time. However, I will undertake to prepare a chart for them, showing the positions of those lands."
"That will be a step in the right direction," he said; "and if they have a prosperous voyage, I am in hopes of them returning during the following summer. We intend to send our unknown friends a cargo of gold by way of introduction," he continued.
"In that case," I answered, "it would be advisable not to dispose of it all at one port, but to call at all the Australian capitals, which they would find a very easy matter after reaching one, for there was much traffic between them, and I could promise the visitors a hearty reception from them all."
"That is satisfactory," he replied, rising. "I will now leave you to make preparations for the land expedition, and you may start at your convenience."
This was addressed to Yondozi and myself, who were left alone.
"Perhaps it would be as well to lose no time in the matter," said the Geographer, who was quite enthusiastic over the affair.
"I have partly made arrangements already, and all that we can do now is to fix the hour for departure."
We decided on an early one, and parted.
"You have no idea how I long to join that expedition, and see other lands and seas," said Alvarez.
"I presume there are many more young ladies who would enjoy that privilege," I answered.
"Yes," she responded; "and we have just interviewed the President about the matter. He will not give his consent to any ladies leaving on this occasion," she continued. "Nor will he bind himself in the future; but he promised that if the vessel should return in safety, and another expedition organized, the question of taking young ladies and their friends or relatives would be considered."
"It would be very agreeable," I said, "if everything went smoothly; but on the other hand, it is not at all improbable that you would be compelled to become inured to dangers and discomforts, in which case the voyage might prove the reverse of what you anticipate."
"I have not promised myself a life of ease on board," she answered emphatically. "On the contrary, I have made up my mind to encounter stormy weather and many trials; and cannot we women endure hardships as well as the stronger sex? Our work might not be quite so serviceable, yet we would do our best, and in time could learn to become navigators. No," she went on, "it would not be my desire for everything to go smoothly, for in that case trips might prove monotonous; and if the worst should come, what would it mean? Why, nothing more than the parting from that strange thing we call life, a process which all our ancestors have experienced, and which we shall eventually have to undergo in any case, and which I trust we fear as little as they."
"What about the land expedition? I interjected. "Perhaps he would be willing for young ladies to accompany it."
"He should be, at least," she answered; "and I will see him about the matter."
Saying this, she made her exit.
On going out into the grounds, I saw Yeyema and Vandalia coming to the palace, and went to meet them. Yeyema informed me they were aware of the intended expedition in Tehana, and had come to Atazatlan in the hope of inducing the President to join him in forming a monster one to the volcanic regions, whose surface had recently undergone a change, but where all was now quiescent. A visitor who had just arrived from those parts had told him that the scenery was indescribably beautiful. Waterfalls on the grandest scale possible had come into existence, lakes and ravines were numerous, and the precious things and secrets of the interior of the earth were thrown to the surface. Vegetation was growing with unprecedented rapidity, and this was now by far the most wonderful territory in Neuroomia.
Alvarez now joined us, and on arriving at the entrance, Yeyema and Vandalia passed in towards the reception-room. I suggested a walk to the romantic valley. On the way she gave me an account of her last interview with Onneyubla. With regard to ladies accompanying the land expedition he would take no action, but leave the matter for Yondozi to decide, who she knew would be averse to the proposal on the ground of the delay it might cause. However, she and many others had already decided to pass the approaching falls of this season in the mountains, by way of atoning in a measure for the disappointments she had experienced.
On our return to the palace, there was evidently much more stir than when we left it. Numbers of visitors were arriving and leaving, while many appeared to be busy. We knew that something unusual was about to take place.
Yondozi noticed us approaching; and advanced towards us. He said the hour fixed for departure had been postponed, but that he did not regret it, for the members of the expedition were to be increased considerably, and would include Onneyubla, Yeyema, and a number of ladies.
Alvarez was overjoyed at this, and went off to seek her companions. Preparations were continued for some time, but at last all was ready, and the great cavalcade moved slowly away from the palace, headed by Onneyubla. There were no conveyances, for they would be useless in the mountains; but every one had a flanilla to ride, and there was a number of spare ones driven in a herd. Many also were packed, and led by young attendants.
"This is what I call life," observed Alvarez, who was now by my side; and more than once during the journey I felt the force of the remark, for everything was beautiful, and the sun warmed up the world. The aged were as gay and happy as the young.
Our route was to be the same as that traversed by Yondozi and myself some time previously; so we made for the opening in the hills. Our camping places, previous to going to rest, were enlivened by songs, speeches, recitations and theatrical entertainments. Not the least charming among the performers was the attractable Delemia, who sang as sweetly as before. Our magnanimous leader and president was gifted with unusual vigour, and appeared as if he had discovered and drank of some unknown fountain of youth. He flirted and sang, and frequently told amusing stories of his already long and uneventful life.
Time passed rapidly, though we travelled but leisurely, and at length we got a glimpse of the frozen expanse ahead.
Here a separation took place, for it was decided that Yondozi, myself, and a few of the young men should proceed, lightly equipped, to examine the icefield, while the main body of the expedition went along the heights in a different direction towards its destination, the locality shattered by the earthquake, where it was arranged they would await our return.
Some little time after parting from the others, I found that I had forgotten the small waterproof case containing my diary, so I lost no time in going back for it, while Yondozi waited. On my return, I observed that I could not understand how I had forgotten it.
"It may have all the better luck," he jestingly replied. "But what do you mean to do with it?" he asked.
I answered that if the channel were still open, I would send it with the expedition, but in the event of it being blocked by ice, it was my intention to carry it to the outer border of the field, and consign it to the waves, in the hope of it floating to some other land.
"Our greatest trouble will be on the frozen field," he remarked, "for I fear it will be intensely cold. It is somewhat early in the season to remain there very long. However, I have not the least doubt we can weather it all right."
We travelled as fast as it was safe for the animals to go over the broken surface, making for the hill from which I last saw the Penguin. On ascending it, we could see nothing but the irregular mouth of the channel, which did not appear to have altered much since I last beheld it. On scanning the horizon with our glasses, however, we could see a little dark protuberance in the far distance, and the channel was open as far as we could see.
"This is indeed encouraging," observed Yondozi. "There is abundance of room there for a ship to pass through. Our expedition will be a success."
"Yes," I answered; "and the Penguin must have cleared the ice with little difficulty."
We now descended, and, forming a camp, began to construct light sledges from the portable materials the young men carried with them for the purpose. These being completed, four of us set out, each in a separate sledge, carrying water and food for himself and his flanilla.
This mode of travelling was new to me, and proved by much the most delightful I had ever experienced. The animals were, comparatively speaking, fresh, for they had been kept in reserve while we travelled with the expedition. They glided, rather than ran, along the ice, and we made tremendous headway. On more than one occasion I gave vent to my curbed spirits by indulging in prolonged shouts, which contrasted weirdly with the silence of this desolate yet awe-inspiring region that now surrounded us. Our plan was to keep some distance away from the channel, striking it at intervals, and make a more careful survey, if possible, on our return. Once we stepped from our sledges to examine it. Yondozi began to be more thoughtful, for it appeared useless to proceed any farther, as the banks of ice were so close at the top as to be almost touching.
"A vessel could not pass very well through there," he said, pointing ahead.
I agreed with him, and began to think of the Penguin; then carefully surveyed the distance, in the hope of seeing a mast. This, however, in a moment, I considered to be folly, for I knew that if no accident had happened, and if not delayed, they must be at their destination before now.
"That dark object must be some huge monster lying asleep on the ice," I said; "for it has not moved since we first noticed it."
I again applied my glass to it, and Yondozi followed my example.
"Rather large for a seal or bear," he observed. "Looks like the hull of a vessel."
"And no other than the Penguin!" I exclaimed.
"They have got blocked in the channel," he said, "and perhaps have perished."
"No!" I responded. "They had abundance of provisions, and must be there still."
"They have suffered from the cold," he said.
"Yes," I replied. "But they took a good supply of firewood with them."
We lost no time in getting into our sledges again, and allowed the animals to go at their highest speed in the direction of the vessel.
Septimus would now certainly be reduced in command; as for Skinny, he would probably lose office. I kept my eyes constantly on the ship; the sails were set, yet I could see no signs of life on board. Was it possible they had abandoned the vessel, and returned to the land? Hardly, I thought. They would probably remain till the summer.
We got alongside. She was frozen in; yet everything was in perfect order, and the vessel appeared as if she were still the abode of people. They must be asleep in their bunks.
I should here mention that I had long given up the idea of punishing Septimus for his misconduct, intending only to take the command, which I had no doubt he would be willing enough to give up to me. Indeed, from the time I recognised the vessel, I felt sure that he would be glad to see me again, and for my own part I was overjoyed at the idea of meeting them. Skinny had always been faithful, and Sifton, the other seaman, had discharged his duties well. However, I would give them a surprise; so I hurried to the bridge, and shouted out in a loud, if not musical, voice, "Captain Septimus Adolphus Robinson"; but no "Aye, aye, sir," was forthcoming. I repeated the name, but all was silent. So I stepped down to the deck, where Yondozi was standing, and we went below. Here a pitiful scene was presented to us. At the foot of the ladder was Septimus, lying at full length, and looking as before, but I knew that he was dead—frozen to death. We went farther, and proceeded to the galley, where we found Skinny sitting in an upright position, leaning his back against the wall, and facing the fireplace, but life was gone; while beside him, lying on the floor, was Sifton, but he, too, was no more. All was now clear. They had exhausted their stock of firewood. The last pieces had been placed on the grate. It was probably then that Septimus left his place to secure a fresh supply from cases and other sources, and was going on deck when he fell.
Poor Septimus! he was indifferent to office or position now. There was evidence to show that both he and Skinny had acted their parts well, and the other had proved a faithful adherent to them. They had lived cordially together, and died together. Love of home had induced them to enter on the perilous journey that led to their destruction. They were greater patriots than myself.
"What is to be done?" I inquired of Yondozi.
"We can do but little now," he replied. "The Penguin has been their home and their grave, and why should we disturb them?"
"I know they loved her," I observed.
We removed them, and, wrapping them in canvas, conveyed each to his own bed. I cannot tell why, yet I laboured under the belief that they would sleep sounder here than elsewhere.
Our sad mission was now ended. There was nothing more to be done but to visit the outer edge of the fields and then return to the land.
Signed,
Captain Montague Periwinkle, 1891.
THE END.