The Project Gutenberg eBook, The World of Ice, by Robert Michael Ballantyne

Title: The World of Ice

Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne

Release Date: March 16, 2004 [eBook #11602]

Language: English

Character set encoding: iso-8859-1

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORLD OF ICE***

THE WORLD OF ICE OR The Whaling Cruise of "The Dolphin" AND The Adventures of Her Crew in the Polar Regions By Robert Michael Ballantyne Author of "The Dog Crusoe and his Master," "The Young Fur-Traders," "The Gorilla-Hunters," "Ungava," "The Coral Island," &c. 1893

PREFACE.

Dear Reader, most people prefer a short to a long preface. Permit me, therefore, to cut this one short, by simply expressing an earnest hope that my book may afford you much profit and amusement.

R.M. BALLANTYNE.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Some of the "dramatis personæ" introduced—Retrospective glances—Causes of future effects—Our hero's early life at sea—A pirate—A terrible fight and its consequences—Buzzby's helm lashed amidships—A whaling-cruise begun.

CHAPTER II.

Departure of the "Pole Star" for the Frozen Seas—Sage reflections of Mrs. Bright, and sagacious remarks of Buzzby—Anxieties, fears, surmises, and resolutions—Isobel—A search proposed—Departure of the "Dolphin" for the Far North.

CHAPTER III.

The voyage—The "Dolphin" and her crew—Ice ahead—Polar scenes—Masthead observations—The first whale—Great excitement.

CHAPTER IV.

The chase and the battle—The chances and dangers of whaling war—Buzzby dives for his life and saves it—So does the whale and loses it—An anxious night, which terminates happily, though with a heavy loss.

CHAPTER V.

Miscellaneous reflections—The coast of Greenland—Upernavik—News of the "Pole Star"—Midnight-day—Scientific facts and fairy-like scenes—Tom Singleton's opinion of poor old women—In danger of a squeeze—Escape.

CHAPTER VI.

The gale—Anchored to a berg which proves to be a treacherous one—Dangers of the "pack"—Beset in the ice—Mivins shows an inquiring mind—Walruses—Gale freshens—Chains and cables—Holding on for life—An unexpected discovery—A "nip" and its terrible consequences—Yoked to an iceberg.

CHAPTER VII.

New characters introduced—An old game under novel circumstances—Remarkable appearances in the sky—O'Riley meets with a mishap.

CHAPTER VIII.

Fred and the doctor go on an excursion in which, among other strange things, they meet with red snow and a white bear, and Fred makes his first essay as a sportsman.

CHAPTER IX.

The "Dolphin" gets beset in the ice—Preparations for wintering in the ice—Captain Guy's code of laws.

CHAPTER X.

Beginning of winter—Meetuck effects a remarkable change in the men's appearance—Mossing, and working, and plans for a winter campaign.

CHAPTER XI.

A hunting-expedition, in the course of which the hunters meet with many interesting, dangerous, peculiar, and remarkable experiences, and make acquaintance with seals, walruses, deer, and rabbits.

CHAPTER XII.

A dangerous sleep interrupted—A night in a snow-hut, and an unpleasant visitor—Snowed up.

CHAPTER XIII.

Journey resumed—The hunters meet with bears and have a great fight, in which the dogs are sufferers—A bear's dinner—Mode in which Arctic rocks travel—The ice-belt.

CHAPTER XIV.

Departure of the sun—Effects of darkness on dogs—Winter arrangements in the interior of the "Dolphin."

CHAPTER XV.

Strangers appear on the scene—The Esquimaux are hospitably entertained by the sailors—A spirited traffic—Thieving propensities and summary justice.

CHAPTER XVI.

The Arctic Theatre enlarged upon—Great success of the first play—The Esquimaux submit, and become fast friends.

CHAPTER XVII.

Expeditions on foot—Effects of darkness on dogs and men—The first death—Caught in a trap—The Esquimau camp.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The hunting-party—Reckless driving—A desperate encounter with a walrus, etc.

CHAPTER XIX.

The northern party—A narrow escape, and a great discovery—Esquimaux again, and a joyful surprise.