Part 9 (1/2)
The beds were brought first and laid down round the large stove in the sleeping room; then came chairs, tables, ar-roo utensils for the kitchen Sails spread on the ground did duty for carpets, and also served for inner doors
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The walls of the house were over five feet thick, and the s resembled port-holes for cannon Every part was as solid as possible, and what more anted? Yet if the Doctor could have had his way, he would have made all manner of ornamental additions, in huh in January, 1740, of which he had read an account He a its grandeur, the cannons in front, and statues of exquisite beauty, and the wonderful elephant that spouted water out of his trunk by day and flaht--all cut out of ice He also depicted the interior, with tables, and toilette tables, mirrors, candelabra, tapers, beds, -cards, wardrobes, co in the way of furniture that could be mentioned, and the whole entirely composed of ice
It was on Easter Sunday, the 31st of March, when the travellers installed the divine service in the sitting-room, they devoted the re they set about building the storehouses and powderthe ti the vessel, which was a task of considerable difficulty, as the temperature was so low, that they could not work for th on the 8th of April, provisions, fuel, and ammunition were all safe on terra firma, and deposited in their respective places A sort of kennel was constructed a little distance fronified by the na Palace” Duk shared his master's quarters
All that now reht round the plateau by way of fortification
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By the 15th this was also coht bid defiance to a whole tribe of Esquis whatever were to be found on this unknown continent, for Hatteras, who hadcoast, had not been able to discover the least vestiges of the huts that are generally met with on shores frequented by Greenland tribes The shi+pwrecked sailors of the Porpoise and Forward seeion
CHAPTER VII
AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION
While all these preparations for winter were going on Altaorous constitution triu hand in the unlading of the shi+p He was a true type of the Ay and resolution, enterprising, bold, and ready for anything
He was a native of New York, he informed his companions, and had been a sailor from his boyhood
The Porpoise had been equipped and sent out by a co to the States, at the head of which was the famous Grinnell
There were many points of resemblance between Altamont and Hatteras, but no affinities Indeed, any similarity that there was between them, tended rather to create discord than to reater show of frankness, he was in reality far more deep and crafty than Hatteras He was more free and easy, but not so true-hearted, and somehow his apparent openness did not inspire such confidence as the Englishloomy reserve
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The Doctor was in constant dread of a collision between the rival captains, and yet one must command inevitably, and which should it be! Hatteras had the men, but Altamont had the shi+p, and it was hard to say whose was the better right
It required all the Doctor's tact to keep things smooth, for the simplest conversation threatened to lead to strife
At last, in spite of all his endeavours, an outbreak occurred on the occasion of a grand banquet by way of ”house-war,” when the new habitation was completed
This banquet was Dr Clawbonny's idea He was head-cook, and distinguished hi, which would positively have done no dishonour to the cuisine of the Lord Chancellor of England
Bell most opportunely chanced to shoot a white hare and several ptarreeable variety from the pemmican and salt ht in his pudding, adorning hi apron, and a knife dangling at his belt
As Altalish coin and brandy were set on the table after dinner, and the others, by the Doctor's orders, joined hiht be duly honoured When the different toasts were being drunk, one was given to the United States, to which Hatteras made no response
This i subject of conversation by saying--
”My friends, it is not enough to have come thus far in spite of somore yet to do I propose we should bestow a name on this continent, where we have found friendly shelter and rest, and not only on the continent, but on the several bays, peaks, and promontories that we ators and is a ht,” said Johnson, ”when once a place is na castaways on an unknown shore”
”Yes,” added Bell, ”and we ed to separate, or go out hunting, and it would make it much easier to find one another if each locality had a definite name”