The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

LOOSING THE TEMPEST. 5 To us, the approach of what seemed an assured end to our adventurous lives took on such a weird beauty that we forgot, during the time we stood there, that we were looking at an omi- nous fate bearing down on us as relent- lessly as the quicksand sucks down its victim or the assassin’s bullet reaches the heart. . The midnight sun touched the loft- iest spires of the great berg, which, as it kept swinging its greatest length toward us, assumed larger and larger proportions, till the great, glistening monster looked like an immense cathe- dral, or a village of cathedrals united by protecting arches. The side was glistening white. The spires, upon which the sun was reflected so efful- gently, were backed by a magnificent exhibit of the aurora borealis. Ordway breathed a sigh of admi- ration. “Dag,” he said, “that is the most beautiful thing I ever saw.” “It certainly is a splendid sight,” I replied. , ‘ Almost worth all we've been through to see.” ( “ It ¢s worth it all.” “ And to think that magnificent thing is slowly coming down to crush us— to swamp and send us to death in these frozen waters!” Ordway turned on me suddenly. “ Dag,” he exclaimed, “ don’t let it.” “Well, go on; I’ve got a few hours to be amused. What shall we do? Jump overboard and tow this useless hulk back to Bergen? ” I knew that no human being could live half an hour in.that icy water. — “No, there is no use making things worse. But we'll fight for life, Dag. You and I have fought before, and we'll fight now. Wait till the thing gets near enough for us to shake our fists atit. We'll defy it.” “T think [ve heard of somebody defying Juggernaut — or was it the lightning?” “Oh, well, the lightning is—yjust lightning. But this is a tangible, de- featable foe. And we'll best it.” “I’m game if there’s a fighting chance.”’ “Meantime,” he continued, “ you get some sleep. I'll watch. If there is any change, I'll call you.” The hint was a good one, for I was really sleepy. Cold, as well as excessive heat, induces slumber. I was soon rolled in the blankets, dreaming of fantastic things dancing on ice-spires, and grinning snow faces gleefully an- ticipating what was coming. It is needless to keep on with the details of our watch. The Northbird was drifting with the current, the same as was the berg. But there seemed to be some magnetic power drawing us toward the ice, while the constant swing of the farther end hastened the ap-. proach of the ice to us. We ate, drank, and smoked, alter- nately sleeping while the other watched. It was my turn to rest, and I was in sound slumber when Ordway woke me. ‘Come out here, Dag!” he called. “We'd better both be on hand now.” I joined him. The cold was terrific. We were bundled in furs, yet shivering. But Ordway seemed to give no thought to this discomfort. Danger was at hand. Every nerve and fiber of his being was alert, alive, and ready. Only a short distance from us loomed the mighty berg. We could not see either end. The blank wall that faced us no longer scintillated with reflected light. It was black, ominous, relent- less. I had two long, stout iron - shod pikes on board. I got them loose with- out waiting for a suggestion, or speak- ing one. Silently I handed one to Ordway. : “ Now,” he said, “we are facing a straight facade that no human being, not even a climbing beast, could scale. But somewhere along this side there must be a ledge, or a crevice; some kind of opening. The thing for us to do now is to catch the ice with the spikes, and keep poling along till we find such a place. Of course, the danger—” CoOMmicbook CO