The English at the North Pole

in K. Z--, Richard Shandon mate, will start from

les of docks can hardly contain? However, from daybreak on the 6th of April a considerable crowd covered the wharfs of New Prince's Docks-the innumerable companies of sailors of the town seemed to have met there. Workmen from the neighbouring wharfs had left their work, m

ed with the other brigs in the port. But though it offered nothing curious to the eyes of the public, connoisseurs remarked certain peculiarities in it that a sailor

masting," said one; "it isn't usual

the topsails are the biggest because the others will be often useless. I haven't got the slightest doubt that the Forward

a third sailor. "Have you noticed her st

l cutter as sharp as a razor and capable of cutting a three-dec

urteen knots an hour with her screw. It was marvellous to see her cuttin

and can be managed by hand. That ship is going to try the Polar seas, or my name isn't what it

gh," answered one; "bu

put two and two together and make it four; it proves that they want to be able to take off the helm

answered the cre

ifton told me. The Forward is victualled and carries coal enough for five or six years

doubt on the matter; but you, who know Clifton,

crew was engaged without knowing. He'll onl

e going to the devil," said an

n for that, Richard Shandon wouldn't have found a soul to go with him. A ship with a queer shape, going nobo

t," answered Cornhill, "you couldn't ha

why,

, and you are in the category, so you needn't talk. Even the very name of the ship is a bold

said a simple-fa

you think Shandon is the captai

wered the y

e isn't any more captain than you or I. As to who is going to command after God on board he doesn't know any more than we do. When the moment has come the true captai

u that there is someone on board who was announced in the let

"do you mean to maintain that the

Mr. Co

t your precious i

son, the b

John

s,

n told

me so, but he show

said Cornhill, stupefied

d

you mean

on four

of a vessel of a hundred and seventy tons burden! It was enough to make them laugh. But really the Forward was such an extraordinary

captain, did he?" added he, addressin

plainly as I

nk about it?" asked the sa

think anything, except that the Forward is a ship belong

the town, and amongst the crowd of spectators many a one looked out for the dog-captain and believed him to be a supernatural animal. Besides, the Forward had been attracting public attention for some months past. Everything about her was marvellous; her pec

, sees her struggles with the sea and the wind in the adventurous journey which does not always end in port; when in addition to th

lan from Richard Shandon; it informed them of the exact tonnage, dimensions, and store room that the brig was to have. They saw by the details given that they had to do with a consummate seaman. As Shandon had considerable funds at his disposal, the work advanced rapidly, according to the recommendation of the owner. The brig was constructed of a solidity to withstand all tests; it was evident

eel prow, cast in the workshop of R. Hawthorn, of Newcastle, shone in the sun and gave a peculiar look to the brig, though otherwise she had nothing particularly warlike about her. However, a 16-pounder cann

tined for another Franklin expedition? It could not be, because in 1859, the preceding year, Captain McClintock had returned from the Arctic seas, bringing the certain proof of the loss of the unfortunate expedition. Was the Forward going to attempt the famous North-West passage? What would be the use? Captain McClure had discovered it in 1853

lating cylinders, taking up little room; its power was considerable for a hundred-and-seventy-ton brig, with so much sail, too, and of such fleetne

and sails at the same time, her sa

hes. Richard Shandon presided over the management of this precious cargo like a man who knows what he is about; all was stowed away, ticketed, and numbered in perfect order; a very large provision of the Indian preparation called pemmican, which contains many nutritive elements in a small volume, was also embarked. The nature of the provisions left no doubt about the length of the cruise, and the

counting a considerable quantity of blasting cylinders, enough to blow up the Liverpool Customs-all that was strange, not to say fearful, without mentioning rockets, signals, powder-chests, and beacons of a thousand different sorts. The numerous spectators on the wharfs of Prince's Docks ad