Antarctica -- Discovery and exploration -- Fiction
"He has it! He has it! Hurrah, Dirk, hurrah!" shouted
Hurliguerly, and Endicott echoed his exultant cheer.
The half-breed had, in fact, reached the boat and raised himself
alongside half out of the water. His big, strong hand grasped the
side, and at the risk of causing the boat to capsize, he hoisted
himself up to the side, stepped over it, and sat down to draw his
breath.
Almost instantly a shout reached our ears. It was uttered by Dirk
Peters. What had he found? Paddles! It must be so, for we saw him
seat himself in the front of the boat, and paddle with all his
strength in striving to get out of the current.
"Come along!" said the captain, and, turning the base of the
hillock, we all ran along the edge of the beach between the blackish
stones that bestrewed it.
After some time, West stopped us. The boat had reached the shelter
of a small projection at that place, and it was evident that it
would be run ashore there.
When it was within five or six cables' lengths, and the eddy was
helping it on, Dirk Peters let go the paddles, stooped towards the
after-part of the boat, and then raised himself, holding up an inert
body.
An agonized cry from Captain Len Guy rent the air!
"My brother--my brother!"
"He is living! He is living!" shouted Dirk Peters.
A moment later, the boat had touched the beach, and Captain Len Guy
held his brother in his arms.
Three of William Guy's companions lay apparently lifeless in the
bottom of the boat.
And these four men were all that remained of the crew of the _Jane_.
CHAPTER XXIV.
ELEVEN YEARS IN A FEW PAGES.
The heading of the following chapter indicates that the adventures
of William Guy and his companions after the destruction of the English
schooner, and the details of their history subsequent to the
departure of Arthur Pym and Dirk Peters, are about to be narrated
with all possible brevity.
We carried our treasure-trove to the cavern, and had the happiness of
restoring all four men to life. In reality, it was hunger, nothing
but hunger, which had reduced the poor fellows to the semblance of
death.
* * * * *
On the 8th of February, 1828, the crew of the _Jane_, having no reason
to doubt the good faith of the population of Tsalal Island, or that
of their chief, Too-Wit, disembarked, in order to visit the village
of Klock-Klock, having previously put the schooner into a state of
defence, leaving six men on board.
The crew, counting William Guy, the captain, Arthur Pym, and Dirk
Peters, formed a body of thirty-two men, armed with guns, pistols,
and knives. The dog Tiger accompanied them.
On reaching the narrow gorge leading to the village, preceded and
followed by the numerous warriors of Too-Wit, the little company
divided, Arthur Pym, Dirk Peters, and Allen (the sailor) entering a
cleft in the hill-side with the intention of crossing it to the
other side. From that moment their companions were never to see them
more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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