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204 pages

English

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Fans of classic adventure fiction will delight in Jules Verne's An Antarctic Mystery. The novel follows the journey of fictional explorer Pym, who also appeared in Edgar Allen Poe's The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, through the eyes of an American explorer who is surveying the Kerguelen Islands.

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Adventure (Guyana)

Adventure

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Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 septembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781775418900
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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AN ANTARCTIC MYSTERY
THE SPHINX OF THE ICE FIELDS
* * *
JULES VERNE

*

An Antarctic Mystery The Sphinx of the Ice Fields First published in 1897 ISBN 978-1-775418-90-0 © 2010 The Floating Press
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - The Kerguelen Islands Chapter II - The Schooner Halbrane Chapter III - Captain Len Guy Chapter IV - From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island Chapter V - Edgar Poe's Romance Chapter VI - An Ocean Waif Chapter VII - Tristan D'Acunha Chapter VIII - Bound for the Falklands Chapter IX - Fitting Out the Halbrane Chapter X - The Outset of the Enterprise Chapter XI - From the Sandwich Islands to the Polar Circle Chapter XII - Between the Polar Circle and the Ice Wall Chapter XIII - Along the Front of the Icebergs Chapter XIV - A Voice in a Dream Chapter XV - Bennet Islet Chapter XVI - Tsalal Island Chapter XVII - And Pym? Chapter XVIII - A Revelation Chapter XIX - Land? Chapter XX - "Unmerciful Disaster" Chapter XXI - Amid the Mists Chapter XXII - In Camp Chapter XXIII - Found at Last Chapter XXIV - Eleven Years in a Few Pages Chapter XXV - "We Were the First" Chapter XXVI - A Little Remnant Endnotes
Chapter I - The Kerguelen Islands
*
No doubt the following narrative will be received: with entireincredulity, but I think it well that the public should be put inpossession of the facts narrated in "An Antarctic Mystery." Thepublic is free to believe them or not, at its good pleasure.
No more appropriate scene for the wonderful and terrible adventureswhich I am about to relate could be imagined than the DesolationIslands, so called, in 1779, by Captain Cook. I lived there forseveral weeks, and I can affirm, on the evidence of my own eyes andmy own experience, that the famous English explorer and navigatorwas happily inspired when he gave the islands that significant name.
Geographical nomenclature, however, insists on the name ofKerguelen, which is generally adopted for the group which lies in49° 45' south latitude, and 69° 6' east longitude. This isjust, because in 1772, Baron Kerguelen, a Frenchman, was the firstto discover those islands in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.Indeed, the commander of the squadron on that voyage believed thathe had found a new continent on the limit of the Antarctic seas, butin the course of a second expedition he recognized his error. Therewas only an archipelago. I may be believed when I assert thatDesolation Islands is the only suitable name for this group of threehundred isles or islets in the midst of the vast expanse of ocean,which is constantly disturbed by austral storms.
Nevertheless, the group is inhabited, and the number of Europeansand Americans who formed the nucleus of the Kerguelen population atthe date of the 2nd of August, 1839, had been augmented for twomonths past by a unit in my person. Just then I was waiting for anopportunity of leaving the place, having completed the geologicaland mineralogical studies which had brought me to the group ingeneral and to Christmas Harbour in particular.
Christmas Harbour belongs to the most important islet of thearchipelago, one that is about half as large as Corsica. It is safe,and easy, and free of access. Your ship may ride securely at singleanchor in its waters, while the bay remains free from ice.
The Kerguelens possess hundreds of other fjords. Their coasts arenotched and ragged, especially in the parts between the north andthe south-east, where little islets abound. The soil, of volcanicorigin, is composed of quartz, mixed with a bluish stone. In summerit is covered with green mosses, grey lichens, various hardy plants,especially wild saxifrage. Only one edible plant grows there, a kindof cabbage, not found anywhere else, and very bitter of flavour.Great flocks of royal and other penguins people these islets,finding good lodging on their rocky and mossy surface. These stupidbirds, in their yellow and white feathers, with their heads thrownback and their wings like the sleeves of a monastic habit, look, ata distance, like monks in single file walking in procession alongthe beach.
The islands afford refuge to numbers of sea-calves, seals, andsea-elephants. The taking of those amphibious animals either on landor from the sea is profitable, and may lead to a trade which willbring a large number of vessels into these waters.
On the day already mentioned, I was accosted while strolling on theport by mine host of mine inn.
"Unless I am much mistaken, time is beginning to seem very long toyou, Mr. Jeorling?"
The speaker was a big tall American who kept the only inn on theport.
"If you will not be offended, Mr. Atkins, I will acknowledge thatI do find it long."
"Of course I won't be offended. Am I not as well used to answersof that kind as the rocks of the Cape to the rollers?"
"And you resist them equally well."
"Of course. From the day of your arrival at Christmas Harbour,when you came to the Green Cormorant, I said to myself that in afortnight, if not in a week, you would have enough of it, and wouldbe sorry you had landed in the Kerguelens."
"No, indeed, Mr. Atkins; I never regret anything I have done."
"That's a good habit, sir."
"Besides, I have gained knowledge by observing curious thingshere. I have crossed the rolling plains, covered with hard stringymosses, and I shall take away curious mineralogical and geologicalspecimens with me. I have gone sealing, and taken sea-calves withyour people. I have visited the rookeries where the penguin and thealbatross live together in good fellowship, and that was well worthmy while. You have given me now and again a dish of petrel, seasonedby your own hand, and very acceptable when one has a fine healthyappetite. I have found a friendly welcome at the Green Cormorant,and I am very much obliged to you. But, if I am right in myreckoning, it is two months since the Chilian twomaster Penãs setme down at Christmas Harbour in mid-winter.
"And you want to get back to your own country, which is mine, Mr.Jeorling; to return to Connecticut, to Providence, our capital."
"Doubtless, Mr. Atkins, for I have been a globe-trotter for closeupon three years. One must come to a stop and take root at sometime."
"Yes, and when one has taken root, one puts out branches."
"Just so, Mr. Atkins. However, as I have no relations living, itis likely that I shall be the last of my line. I am not likely totake a fancy for marrying at forty."
"Well, well, that is a matter of taste. Fifteen years ago Isettled down comfortably at Christmas Harbour with my Betsy; she haspresented me with ten children, who in their turn will present mewith grandchildren."
"You will not return to the old country?"
"What should I do there, Mr. Jeorling, and what could I ever havedone there? There was nothing before me but poverty. Here, on thecontrary, in these Islands of Desolation, where I have no reason tofeel desolate, ease and competence have come to me and mine!"
"No doubt, and I congratulate you, Mr. Atkins, for you are a happyman. Nevertheless it is not impossible that the fancy may take yousome day—"
Mr. Arkins answered by a vigorous and convincing shake of the head.It was very pleasant to hear this worthy American talk. He wascompletely acclimatized on his archipelago, and to the conditions oflife there. He lived with his family as the penguins lived in theirrookeries. His wife was a "valiant" woman of the Scripturaltype, his sons were strong, hardy fellows, who did not know whatsickness meant. His business was prosperous. The Green Cormorant hadthe custom of all the ships, whalers and others, that put in atKerguelen. Atkins supplied them with everything they required, andno second inn existed at Christmas Harbour. His sons werecarpenters, sailmakers, and fishers, and they hunted the amphibiansin all the creeks during the hot season. In short, this was a familyof honest folk who fulfilled their destiny without much difficulty.
"Once more, Mr. Atkins, let me assure you," I resumed, "I amdelighted to have come to Kerguelen. I shall always remember theislands kindly. Nevertheless, I should not be sorry to find myselfat sea again."
"Come, Mr. Jeorling, you must have a little patience," said thephilosopher, "you must not forget that the fine days will soon behere. In five or six weeks—"
"Yes, and in the meantime, the hills and the plains, the rocks andthe shores will be covered thick with snow, and the sun will nothave strength to dispel the mists on the horizon."
"Now, there you are again, Mr. Jeorling! Why, the wild grass isalready peeping through the white sheet! Just look!"
"Yes, with a magnifying glass! Between ourselves, Arkins, couldyou venture to pretend that your bays are not still ice-locked inthis month of August, which is the February of our northernhemisphere?"
"I acknowledge that, Mr. Jeorling. But again I say have patience!The winter has been mild this year. The ships will soon show up, inthe east or in the west, for the fishing season is near."
"May Heaven hear you, Atkins, and guide the Halbrane safely intoport."
"Captain Len Guy? Ah, he's a good sailor, although he'sEnglish—there are good people everywhere—and he takes in hissupplies at the Green Cormorant."
"You think the Halbrane —"
"Will be signalled before a week, Mr. Jeorling, or, if not, itwill be because there is no longer a Captain Len Guy; and if thereis no longer a Captain Len Guy, it is because the Halbrane has sunkin full sail between the Kerguel