The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

138 THE GOLD DELUGE. number of disguises. Mueller, an experienced shoemaker, assumed the task of sewing the letters inside a pair of long leather boots so that no one could find them. Szemsky was then presented with one hundred thousand pounds. in Bank of England notes, all above expenses to be for himself. The Esperanza set sail and took a northerly course, while Szemsky stood at the helmsman’s side, waving a last greeting. Captain Alsloev gave orders to fire three shots from the cannon as parting salutes ; then the Chemeia also resumed her journey—in an opposite direction. ‘‘ Now for the south,’’ Alsloev said to Erik, as they stood on the bridge. ‘‘ Yes, go as far as the pole if we can reach there,’’ Erik replied. ‘‘ Our only aim now is to attain a haven of security.”’ ‘“ Then we must be prepared to be frozen in and ice bound for six months or so,’’ the captain said. “So much the better. We will remain at the pole one year, and will then turn about to see how the world has changed in the mean time.”’ Rapidly the Chemeia shot through the waves. ‘The distance between the * two vessels was already so great that the Esperanza seemed only to be a speck on the distant horizon. Ice floes began to drift past the ship, which, how- ever, easily cut its way through them with her sharp steel prow. In the dis- tance, mountains of snow of high altitude glimmered and large icebergs glittered in the bright, blinding glare of the sunlight. Calmly and joyfully the Chemeia sailed on towards the polar summer. CHAPTER XIV.—AT THE END OF A YEAR. “READY !’’ Kelly called out, and with Brown, Calandro, and Peter, hastened back to the ship. More than a nautical mile off, they had, with the aid of red hot iron bars, melted deep holes in the ice, which they filled with a mixture of powder and dynamite. In this manner the Chemeia had pene- trated through the ice quite a stretch during the last few weeks towards the north. Krik and his wife stood on the bridge looking toward the south, where one year of their lives had been passed in long needed, and therefore doubly welcome, rest and peace. The sun which had risen three months ago threw its bright rays over the immense, immeasurable ice fields which had again frozen solidly behind them, closing the path of water they had opened when they left the quiet, clear polar sea to return to the great, restless world which so irresistibly drew them back again. , 7 ‘‘ How do you think matters there are now?’’ Efik asked thoughtfully. “With each foot that we approach nearer the old world, I feel myself to be more and more restless. Has everthing ‘gone as was planned? Did Szem- sky arrive safely and does the world know the great secret? I can find no peace until I ascertain the true facts.’’ ‘‘ It is the same with me,’’ his wife replied. ‘‘ I cannot find sleep when I think that perhaps we must resume the old restless life. Oh, Erik, how happy we have been this last year! It was so peaceful and beautiful on the quiet islands, where the air was so pure and sweet. How grand it was in the Eomichbooks (G(0) m , “