Part 1 (1/2)
An Antarctic Mystery
or The Sphinx of the Ice Fields
by Jules Verne
Chapter I
The Kerguelen Islands
No doubt the following narrative will be received: with entire incredulity, but I think it well that the public should be put in possession of the facts narrated in ”An Antarctic Mystery” The public is free to believe theood pleasure
No more appropriate scene for the wonderful and terrible adventures which I ained than the Desolation Islands, so called, in 1779, by Captain Cook I lived there for several weeks, and I can affirm, on the evidence of lish explorer and navigator was happily inspired when he gave the islands that significant naraphical nouelen, which is generally adopted for the group which lies in 49A 45aE south latitude, and 69A 6aE east longitude This is just, because in 1772, Baron Kerguelen, a Frenchman, was the first to discover those islands in the southern part of the Indian Ocean Indeed, the coe believed that he had found a new continent on the limit of the Antarctic seas, but in the course of a second expedition he recognized his error There was only an archipelago I may be believed when I assert that Desolation Islands is the only suitable naroup of three hundred isles or islets in the midst of the vast expanse of ocean, which is constantly disturbed by austral storroup is inhabited, and the number of Europeans and Auelen population at the date of the 2nd of August, 1839, had been augmented for twofor an opportunity of leaving the place, having coical studies which had brought eneral and to Christs to the o, one that is about half as large as Corsica It is safe, and easy, and free of access Your shi+p le anchor in its waters, while the bay reuelens possess hundreds of other fjords Their coasts are notched and ragged, especially in the parts between the north and the south-east, where little islets abound The soil, of volcanic origin, is composed of quartz, reen rey lichens, various hardy plants, especially wild saxifrage Only one edible plant grows there, a kind of 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 stupid birds, in their yellow and white feathers, with their heads thrown back and their wings like the sleeves of a le file walking in procession along the beach
The islands afford refuge to nu of those amphibious animals either on land or from the sea is profitable, and e number of vessels into these waters
On the day alreadyon the port by mine host ofto see tall American who kept the only inn on the port
”If you will not be offended, Mr Atkins, I will acknowledge that I do find it long”
”Of course I won't be offended Am I not as well used to answers of 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 caht, if not in a week, you would have enough of it, and would be 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 things here I have crossed the rolling plains, covered with hard stringy ical speci, and taken sea-calves with your people I have visited the rookeries where the penguin and the albatross live together in good fellowshi+p, and that orth ain a dish of petrel, seasoned by your own hand, and very acceptable when one has a fine healthy appetite I have found a friendly welcoed to you But, if I a, it is two months since the Chilian twomaster Pens set me down at Christet back to your own country, which is ; to return to Connecticut, to Providence, our capital”
”Doubtless, Mr Atkins, for I have been a globe-trotter for close upon three years One must come to a stop and take root at some time”
”Yes, and when one has taken root, one puts out branches”
”Just so, Mr Atkins However, as I have no relations living, it is likely that I shall be the last ofat forty”
”Well, well, that is a o I settled down comfortably at Christmas Harbour with my Betsy; she has presented randchildren”
”You will not return to the old country?”
”What should I do there, Mr Jeorling, and what could I ever have done there? There was nothing before me but poverty Here, on the contrary, in these Islands of Desolation, where I have no reason to feel desolate, ease and competence have coratulate you, Mr Atkins, for you are a happy man Nevertheless it is not impossible that the fancy orous and convincing shake of the head It was very pleasant to hear this worthy Ao, and to the conditions of life there He lived with his fauins lived in their rookeries His as a ”valiant” wo, hardy felloho did not knohat sickness meant His business was prosperous The Green Cormorant had the custom of all the shi+ps, whalers and others, that put in at Kerguelen Atkins supplied the they required, and no second inn existed at Christmas Harbour His sons were carpenters, sailmakers, and fishers, and they hunted the a the hot season In short, this was a family of honest folk who fulfilled their destiny without much difficulty
”Once hted to have couelen I shall always remember the islands kindly Nevertheless, I should not be sorry to find , you must have a little patience,” said the philosopher, ”you et that the fine days will soon be here In five or six weeks--”
”Yes, and in the meantime, the hills and the plains, the rocks and the shores will be covered thick with snow, and the sun will not have strength to dispel the ain, Mr Jeorling! Why, the wild grass is already peeping through the white sheet! Just look!”
”Yes, with a lass! Between ourselves, Arkins, could you venture to pretend that your bays are not still ice-locked in this ust, which is the February of our northern heain I say have patience! The winter has been mild this year The shi+ps will soon show up, in the east or in the west, for the fishi+ng season is near”
”May Heaven hear you, Atkins, and guide the Halbrane safely into port”
”Captain Len Guy? Ah, he's a good sailor, although he's English--there are good people everywhere--and he takes in his supplies at the Green Cornalled before a week, Mr Jeorling, or, if not, it will be because there is no longer a Captain Len Guy; and if there is no longer a Captain Len Guy, it is because the Halbrane has sunk in full sail between the Kerguelens and the Cape of Good Hope”
Thereupon Mr Atkins walked aith a scornful gesture, indicating that such an eventuality was out of all probability
My intention was to take e on board the Halbrane so soon as she should cos in Christmas Harbour After a rest of six or seven days, she would set sail again for Tristan d'Acunha, where she was to discharge her cargo of tin and copper I meant to stay in the island for a feeeks of the fine season, and from thence set out for Connecticut Nevertheless, I did not fail to take into due account the share that belongs to chance in huar Poe has said, always ”to reckon with the unforeseen, the unexpected, the inconceivable, which have a very large share (in those affairs), and chance ought always to be a matter of strict calculation”
Each day I walked about the port and its neighbourhood The sun was growing strong The rocks were e of snow;up on the basalt cliffs, strips of seaweed fifty yards long were floating on the sea, and on the plain the lyella, which is of Andean origin, was pushi+ng up its little points, and the only legue already mentioned, valuable for its anti-sobtic properties, was le land mammal--sea mammals swarm in these waters--not even of the batrachian or reptilian kinds A few insects only--butterflies or others--and even these did not fly, for before they could use their wings, the atmospheric currents carried the tiny bodies away to the surface of the rolling waves
”And the Halbrane” I used to say to Atkins each ,” he would reply with complacent assurance, ”will surely come into port to-day, or, if not to-day, to-morrow”
In my rambles on the shore, I frequently routed a crowd of a into the newly released waters The penguins, heavy and impassive creatures, did not disappear at my approach; they took no notice; but the black petrels, the puffins, black and white, the grebes and others, spread their wings at sight of me
One day I witnessed the departure of an albatross, saluted by the very best croaks of the penguins, no doubt as a friend whom they were to see no ues without resting for a h vast spaces in a few hours The departing albatross sat h rock, at the end of the bay of Christainst the beach
Suddenly, the bird rose with a great sweep into the air, its claws folded beneath it, its head stretched out like the prow of a shi+p, uttering its shrill cry: a few ht and disappeared behind the misty curtain of the south
Chapter II
The Schooner Halbrane
The Halbrane was a schooner of three hundred tons, and a fast sailer On board there was a captain, a ht sailors; in all twelve men, a sufficient number to work the shi+p Solidly built, copper-bottoation between the fortieth and sixtieth parallels of south latitude, the Halbrane was a credit to the shi+p-yards of Birkenhead