My Northern Exposure: The Kawa at the PoleChappell, George S. (George Shepard)
General
My Northern Exposure: The Kawa at the Pole
Chappell, George S. (George Shepard)
Arctic regions -- Fiction; Burlesque (Literature)
I have not seen that strange woman since. She sends me a picture post
card occasionally, usually a winter scene, with mica snow. It is her
inarticulate way of asking forgiveness for the blow she dealt me.
THE CONSULTATION
Nothing was more characteristic of the candor and co-operative
spirit of the Commander of the Traprock Expedition than his constant
willingness to discuss matters with his fellow-travellers. One of the
most moot of all moot questions which frequently presented itself was
that of route. Having arrived at a certain or uncertain point in the
vast snowfields, someone was sure to ask, "Where do we go from here?"
or "Where do you think you are now?"
From the outset Dr. Traprock realized the desirability of an answer
to such interrogations. His experience during numerous previous
Arctic voyages convinced him that most of the bitterness of feeling
which almost inevitably disrupts polar-parties springs from the
unwillingness, to put it mildly, of the leader to satisfy the
natural curiosity of his men in this regard. In order to avoid this
difficulty he had carefully prepared maps showing the progress made
during each day with the projected itinerary, points of interest, and
probable weather conditions. Colored crayons added a decorative value
to the charts.
We here see him explaining to Wigmore, the somewhat belligerent
snow-and-ice-expert, the proposed return route. Instead of confusing
the rather unscientific man with a mass of latitudinal and
longitudinal figures, the Doctor states the whole matter clearly by
saying, "We simply follow the green line."
The fatal results of disregarding this injunction are embodied in the
text. Needless to say they fully prove the value of the Commander's
cartographical skill. An interesting sidelight is the fact that their
daily charts were equally accurate when based on solar observation
or during the long Arctic night when the only basis of authority was
Captain Triplett's amazing bump of locality, which was about the size
of a hen's-egg.
[Illustration: A Consultation]
Just inside the three mile limit we were boarded by revenue officers
from the patrol boat, W.H. Anderson. They made a careful search for
liquor.
"Back to abnormalcy!" carped Swank who was panting to get ashore.
My wires from Grant Land (via Indian runners to Moose Factory) had
warned the scientific world of our arrival. Further details, giving
brief accounts of the deaths of Plock, Miskin and Sloff had been
telegraphed from St. John's.
The same gala array and marine salutation which had sped our departure
welcomed our return. But it was with a heavy heart that I stepped on
the Yacht Club landing stage. My mysterious orders were still to be
explained, orders which, had they reached me when intended, would have
brought me ignominiously home, empty of honors and achievement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account