"First Mate Shandon receives a mysterious letter asking him to construct a reinforced steamship in Liverpool. As he heads out for Melville Bay and the Arctic labyrinth, a crewman reveals himself to be John Hatteras, and his lifelong obsession, the Pole. Despite experiencing appalling cold and hunger, the captain treks across the frozen wastes in search of fuel. Abandoned by his crew, Hatteras remains without resources at the coldest spot on earth. How can he find food and explore the Polar Sea? And what will he find at the top of the world?"--Back cover.
As she walked across the meadow, carrying a basket in one hand, and swinging a a dainty blue hood in the other, Margaret Byrckmann made a picture that was pleasing to behold. She looked up as she moved along, but her eyes went down again before the dazzling sun which was setting in a blaze of red splendour, silhouetting the battlemented walls of the city. She gave this evening beauty scanty attention, for her dark eyes were watching the meadow. Then a cry of pleasure broke from her lips, and she hastened forward; but before she had gone far her face filled with disappointment, and she stopped abruptly. "I thought it was Herman!" she exclaimed, almost petulantly. She watched a man who was walking wearily. He looked dusty and wayworn, and the movement on the beaten path seemed to be toilsome and painful. She thought he must have travelled far, for he carried a heavy-looking wallet on his back, and the staff in his hand was used as though it was real labour to go forward. "He is tired to death, poor man!" she muttered, her sympathy getting the better of her disappointment, and she crossed the meadow to intercept him. Until he halted, in sheer weariness, to look around for some spot—a tree, or a bush—anything that would screen him from the glare of the sun, the man in the meadow did not see her; but the moment he spoke, Margaret knew that he was not one of her countrymen. "Mistress, how far is it to the city?" he asked, in a foreign accent. "That is it," she answered softly, and full of concern, for the stranger's limbs trembled, and his hand shook when he raised it to set his cap straight. With the other he gripped his staff tightly, lest he should fall. "Yonder?" he exclaimed, gazing beneath his hand. "I did not see it in the blaze of the sunset. It seems a long way off." "More than two miles," said Margaret. "Two miles!" was the dismayed response; "so far as that?" "Yes, sir. But how will you think to enter the city, since 'tis but a few minutes to sundown? They close the gates the moment the sunset bell has stopped." "Is it so?" came the discouraged response. "I forgot that it is not here as it is in England, where our walled cities are so few. Then I must lie in the meadow till sunrise." "You could enter if you had a pass," said Margaret, who was concerned for the stranger; for, in spite of his wallet and the travel stains, she saw that he was no common wanderer. "But I have no pass." The stranger and the girl, standing in silence, while the slanting sunlight was sending long shadows over the grass, looked around for some place—a hut, or a barn, or anything where a man who was tired could lie down and sleep; but there was nothing of that sort in view; no village, far or near. "There is no place that I can see," said Margaret, who had never noticed how empty the fields were of houses until now, when they were so badly needed. "Ah, well! I may not complain," the stranger muttered. "Why should I? Even the dear Lord saw many a sun go down, and had nowhere to lay His head." He spoke more to himself, as if forgetful that the girl was near, until she moved. "I will sit down under the chestnut tree, and take my chance, unless your home is anywhere outside the city walls." "I live in the city, sir, but they know me, and I have a permit to get in after the gates are shut," said Margaret. "And yet I am so sorry for you," she went on softly. "If I only knew where I might find some food I would not care," the stranger said, gazing around him, his hand above his eyes. A low call came while he was speaking, like the sweet note of the last evening bird. It travelled over the meadow from the river, and Margaret looked up quickly. Her dark eyes flashed, and her lips parted with pleasure; then she sent back an answering cry, full of soft, rich music. The stranger, watching her pale face, saw the flush of colour darken it, and, worn out though he was, he marvelled at her beauty, and smiled to himself. "Pardon me for a moment, sir," she exclaimed, when her answer ended. "I will come back again." While she spoke she moved away with hurried steps to meet a young man who had appeared on the bank of the broad river. He had been bending low to fasten his boat to the root of one of the willows, but when he saw her coming he came to meet her, and, throwing his arms about her, he kissed her till she asked for breathing time.
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The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras by Jules Verne: A thrilling adventure novel that follows the daring expeditions of Captain John Hatteras to the Arctic regions. Jules Verne's narrative takes readers on an exhilarating journey through treacherous terrains, icy waters, and encounters with hostile forces of nature. With its blend of science and adventure, "The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras" showcases Verne's masterful storytelling and imaginative exploration of the unknown. Key Aspects of the Book "The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras": Arctic Exploration: Verne's novel delves into the challenges and dangers of Arctic exploration, capturing the spirit of adventure and discovery. Scientific Exploration: The book incorporates scientific knowledge of the time to present a realistic portrayal of Arctic landscapes and phenomena. Themes of Perseverance: "The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras" explores themes of determination and courage in the face of adversity. Jules Verne was a French novelist born in 1828, known as one of the pioneers of science fiction and adventure literature. His works, such as "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," have inspired generations of readers and continue to be celebrated for their imaginative storytelling and visionary exploration of scientific possibilities.
This is the first complete edition and the first English translation of a surprising work by a popular French novelist whose work continues to delight readers to this day.
First Mate Shandon receives a mysterious letter asking him to construct a reinforced steamship in Liverpool. As he heads out for Melville Bay and the Arctic labyrinth, a crewman finally reveals himself as Captain John Hatteras, and his obsession-to get to the North Pole. After experiencing appalling cold and hunger, the captain treks across the frozen wastes in search of fuel. Abandoned by most of his crew, and accompanied by a rival American explorer, Hatteras continues his journey to the Pole, encountering endless perils and adventures along the way. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
