The Pole (5 page)

“Two years I studied,” he said. “It was what my mother wanted.” He shook his head. “Wasn't right for me. I was meant to be out 'ere … on the ocean … on the ice.” He paused again. “I've spent a fair amount of time in churches. Funny, sometimes I felt God's presence in church, and sometimes I didn't. But up north I can always feel Him. I can almost hear Him whisper in my ears. If ya listen closely, maybe you'll hear Him whisper too.”

I didn't know what to say. I just felt uncomfortable. I needed to change the subject.

“Do the Eskimos speak English?” I asked.

“Most speak a few words. Some speak more. A couple speak English pretty good. Maybe you'll learn some of their language. It's called Inuktitut.”

“Can you speak it?”

“Enough to get across what I need to get across. Hopefully you'll be learnin' some yourself. Speakin' of learnin', I hear you're learnin' pretty fast.”

“Who said that?” I asked.

“Angus, Keith, my first mate, just about everybody aboard ship.They all have good things ta say.”

That made me feel good. Even if they were saying some things
to
me that weren't nice, at least
the things they were saying
about
me were good. There were lots of things to learn, and I was trying my best.

I looked out at the view Captain Bartlett enjoyed so much. It was beautiful. Blue, blue sky, dark, greenish water and … what was that? Small, and on the cusp of the horizon.

“I see something … out there.”

“Where?”

I pointed out in front, just off the starboard side.

“I don't see anything,” Captain Bartlett said.

“It's there, just small, but on the horizon.”

“Light and water can play tricks on the eyes.”

I shook my head. “No, there's something there, look.”

The Captain had a pair of binoculars around his neck. He brought them up to his eyes. He swept the binoculars around, trying to locate what I saw … or, at least, what I
thought
I saw.

He lowered the binoculars and then pulled them off his neck. “Here,” he said, offering them to me.

I took them and looked at the spot where I still thought I could see something. It felt strange looking through them, and I couldn't make out anything but a blur of water.

“I … I … can't see anything.”

He took the binoculars back. “You don't need'em. You saw it with your naked eye.”

“I saw something … I can
still
see something out there. Is it a berg?”

“Big one. Still three or four miles away. Close as we're gonna get.” He leaned over the side of the crow's nest. “Ten degrees to port!” he yelled.

“Ten degrees port!” I heard another voice call out, relaying his order to the bridge.

“Now, I have one more thing for ya to do,” Captain Bartlett said. “Ya can go and tell the Commander that we will be droppin' anchor in Etah by midday tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” I took hold of the rigging and pulled myself up and onto it and out of the crow's nest.

“An' boy … thanks for bringin' up my supper … an' for the conversation.”

CHAPTER FIVE

I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE
to find Commander Peary. It was just after six bells. He and the other members of his expedition would be in the galley, eating dinner. The rest of the crew ate in shifts— some earlier in the day and others much later—but the Commander always ate at the same time.

I paused just before I reached the hatch to the galley. Commander Peary had always been polite to me, and since that night I'd saved his daughter he had been
very
nice to me, but he still made me a little nervous. He was a famous Arctic explorer and the commander of our expedition and I was just a cabin boy … no, I reminded myself, a Seaman, third class. I opened up the hatch.

“Danny!” Commander Peary yelled out a greeting and the other men nodded or smiled or waved. Doc Goodsell and Mr. Marvin sat beside the Commander and Mr. MacMillan, and George, the university student, sat across the table. Matt stood off to one
side. Cookie wasn't there. It was strange for him not to be there.

“Hello, sir. May I come in?”

“Of course you may. Please come and join us!”

“Thank you, sir. I have a message from Cap'n Bartlett. He said for me to tell ya that we'll be makin' Etah by the afternoon of tomorrow.”

“Excellent news!” the Commander said. “That puts us at least two days ahead of schedule. Now, for more immediate matters. Have you eaten, Danny?”

“Yes, sir. I ate with the crew around four bells.”

“Four bells is a long time ago, surely you'd like something more.”

“Well … I guess …” I took a step toward the stove and—

“Matthew, get Danny some grub.”

I stopped. “I can get it,” I offered.

“No, you come, have a seat,” he said, gesturing to an empty chair at the end of the table. “Matthew will serve you … that's why he's here.”

I sat down, but I felt really uncomfortable.

Matt walked over to the cupboard and took out a bowl.Then he removed the lid from a big pot of stew that was simmering on the stove. He ladled out a heaping helping and brought it over, placing it in front of me.

“Thanks,” I said.

Matt nodded.

“I could use more, myself,” Mr. Marvin said as he held up his bowl to Matt.

“It will be an eventful day tomorrow,” Commander Peary said.

“More than just eventful,” George exclaimed. “It will be thrilling!”That was just like George, to be so excited. He was more like a little kid than a man in some ways, always happy and smiling and friendly.

“This will be my first opportunity to meet a Native, a noble Eskimo,” George said.

“They are an interesting people,” Commander Peary told him. “Uneducated, but wise in the ways of the Arctic and survival. Completely lacking in what we would define as civilization, but possessing their own unique culture. Gentle but savage. Heathens with no true understanding of
real
religion but in many ways following the lessons of Christ.”

“That's what the Cap'n said … about the religion part.”

“Captain Bartlett would know. He is one of the few people onboard who has had any contact with the Eskimos. The others being myself, of course, and Matt.”

“Nobody else?” I asked, looking around the table.

The four men sitting at the table shook their heads. They almost looked embarrassed.

“In fact, this is the farthest north any of these men has ever travelled before,” Commander Peary said.

I was shocked, and my expression must have given me away.

“You looked surprised,” Commander Peary said.

“Not surprised, sir. It was just … just … not what I 'ad expected.”

“Have no concerns,” Commander Peary said. “These are strong, resourceful, determined men, and as long as they take my directions we shall succeed. And, of course, we are being captained by the man who was in command of the
Roosevelt
on her last mission north. Captain Bartlett is perhaps the greatest ice captain alive.”

He didn't have to convince me about the Captain. All of the crew had complete confidence in him.

“And don't forget Matt, here,” George said. “How many times have you been to the Arctic, Matt?”

“I've accompanied the Commander on each of his Arctic trips,” Matt answered quietly.

“I guess that would make you one of the most experienced Arctic travellers in history,” George said.

“One of,” he agreed.

“Matthew certainly knows the Arctic,” Commander Peary agreed. “Hardly a man alive who knows more about the Arctic than my faithful valet. I'd trust my life in the hands of this man.” He paused. “Actually I
have
put my life in his hands, on more occasions than I can count.”

“As I have put my life in your hands,” Matt said.As he spoke, he came over with the bowl of stew for Mr. Marvin. He set it down, and Mr. Marvin nodded his approval.

This all seemed strange. Here was the person who had the most Arctic experience—as much as Commander Peary—and he was serving everybody instead of sitting down and eating with everybody else.

“I have an idea,” George said. “How about if we have young Danny here accompany us when we put in at Etah? He could come ashore and meet the Eskimos!”

Commander Peary turned to me. “Would you like that?”

“I don't know … the Cap'n might need me aboard ship …”

“I'll speak to him. I'm sure he can spare you. It would be a wonderful opportunity to explore a Native community … highly educational. Now, first things, first. Do you have anything warmer than the coat you're wearing now?”

“No, sir.”

“We must remedy that. Matthew, take Danny down to the supplies as soon as possible and get him some furs.”

AUGUST
16, 1908

I leaned against the railing, looking out on the isolated community. Etah certainly was a great deal different from our last ports. It made Sydney, Nova Scotia, look like New York City.There was a series of haphazardly placed structures—nothing more than stones piled on top of stones, one storey tall. Each one looked about large enough to house a few people in one room.The buildings looked particularly small against the rocky cliffs that rose up behind them. I could make out some movement—tiny people moving between the buildings—and there were three or four plumes of smoke rising up in scattered locations across the settlement.

There was also a sound, carried by the stiff winds blowing from the land. At first it was so faint that I didn't even recognize it. Then, as I pulled down my hood, perked my ears, and focused my thoughts, I realized what it was. It was the sound of dogs barking … sledge dogs.

I pulled my hood back up. It was hard to believe it could be this chilly in the middle of August. Especially since the sun was shining so brightly—and for almost twenty-four hours a day!

“You ready, Danny?” Commander Peary asked as he came up beside me.

“Yes, sir.”

“Let's make for the dory.”

I followed the Commander. A large dory had been lowered into the water and we climbed down a set of stairs to get to it. In the boat already were the Doc, George, Mr. MacMillan—who had asked me to call him Donald—and Mr. Marvin, who I wouldn't have dreamed of calling anything but “Sir” or “Mister.” Matt was standing at the stern, manning the tiller, and four crewmen—including Keith and Angus— were at the oars ready to row. I was surprised that the Captain wasn't with us, but I understood he had plenty of things to do aboard ship. I took a seat right up in the bow.

Lines were cast off and we started rowing. I watched intently as the shore became larger and larger and I could make out more detail. As we got closer, more people began to appear, spilling out of the shelters. They were coming out to see us land. I tried to do a rough count but their growing ranks made that impossible. There had to be at least two hundred or more people standing on the stony beach!

As we neared the shore, Peary stood up in the boat. He wobbled, and for a split second I thought he was going to tumble over before Matt reached out and offered a hand, steadying him.

“Good afternoon, my fine friends!” the Commander yelled out.

They waved back, and called out things I couldn't understand. What I could see was that they seemed really happy to see him—lots of waves and big, bright smiles.

The boat ran aground on the rocky shallows, and again the Commander almost toppled forward, steadied by both Matt and George this time. Two of the crew jumped out and pulled the dory up and onto the stony shore, beaching it.

As soon as Commander Peary had climbed out he was mobbed by Natives, who surged forward and offered outstretched hands and greetings. One by one our party piled out of the boat and onto the shore.The crew then hauled the empty dory right up and out of the water, the bottom calling out in noisy protest as the wooden keel scraped against the rocks.

The Commander stood beside one man—one Eskimo. He looked really old, but I thought that he must be important. Maybe he was like the mayor or leader or whatever Eskimos have. One by one Peary introduced him to the four members of his expedition. I stood by the dory with the rest of the crew. Off to the side stood Matt, and while there were no other members of our party with him he was surrounded by people, by Eskimos. While Commander Peary was shaking hands, slapping a back here and there, Matt was being offered hugs and kisses and was practically being mobbed. Peary's
welcome was warm, but Matt was being embraced like a long-lost family member.

Peary started to walk away and everybody trailed after him—the Eskimos and the members of the expedition. Matt broke free and started after Peary as well. I thought I'd just stay at the dory with the crew.

“Danny!” Peary yelled, startling me. “Come!” And I ran after him.

I fell into line behind Matt. I noticed then for the first time that Matt was carrying a bag over his shoulder. It looked heavy, and it made a clanking sound as he moved.

“What's in the bag?” I asked.

“My lunch.”

“But didn't you eat on the… ?” I let the sentence trail off as Matt broke into a big smile and I realized he was just kidding me.

“Stay close and you'll see,” Matt said. He didn't need to say that again. I was planning on staying very close.

Everybody said how nice the Eskimos were— and they sure seemed friendly—but I felt nervous. Everything was so different, and I didn't understand a word anybody was saying, and to make it all worse my legs felt strange … it was hard getting my land legs back after being aboard ship for so long. It felt like the ground was moving, swaying underneath me.

The people weren't tall—a lot were barely taller than me—and they were all dressed strangely in skins. I noticed they had olive skin, hair as dark as night, and teeth as white as snow.The teeth stood out because everybody seemed to be smiling.