Part 1 (1/2)
The Field of Ice
by Jules Verne
CHAPTER I
THE DOCTOR'S INVENTORY
It was a bold project of Hatteras to push his way to the North Pole, and gain for his country the honour and glory of its discovery But he had done all that lay in huainst currents and teh almost insurmountable barriers, a outdistanced all his predecessors and accomplished half his task, he suddenly saw all his hopes blasted The treachery, or rather the despondency, of his worn-out crew, and the cri them had left him and his little band of men in a terrible situation--helpless in an icy desert, two thousand five hundred miles away from their native land, and without even a shi+p to shelter thee of Hatteras was still undaunted The three men which were left him were the
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best on board his brig, and while they reht venture to hope
After the cheerful,to be done was to look their prospects fairly in the face, and know the exact state of things Accordingly, leaving his companions, he stole away alone down to the scene of the explosion
Of the Forward, the brig that had been so carefully built and had becoments, twisted bars of iron,
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cable ends still s, and here and there in the distance spiral wreaths of smoke, met his eye on all sides His cabin and all his precious treasures were gone, his books, and instru mournfully of his irreparable loss, he was joined by Johnson, who grasped his offered hand in speechless sorrow
”What's to become of us?” asked the Doctor
”Who can tell!” was the old sailor's reply
”Anyhow,” said Clawbonny, ”do not let us despair! Let us be ht Now is the tiet out of it, that is the question”
”Poor old brig!” exclairown so attached to her I loved her as one loves a house where he has spent a life-tie what a hold those planks and bea-boat--is that burnt?” asked the Doctor
”No, Mr Clawbonny Shandon and his gang have carried it off”
”And the pirogue?”
”shi+vered into a thousand pieces? Stop Do you see those bits of sheet-iron? That is all that re but the Halkett-boat?”
”Yes, we have that still, thanks to your idea of taking it with you”
”That isn't much,” said the Doctor