by Jules Verne
CHAPTER XIII.
Meanwhile, Sylvius Hogg was hastening toward Bergen. His tenaciousnature and energetic character, though daunted for a moment, were nowreasserting themselves. He refused to credit Ole's death, nor wouldhe admit that Hulda was doomed never to see her lover again. No, untilthe fact was established beyond a doubt, he was determined to regardthe report as false.
But had he any information which would serve as a basis for the taskhe was about to undertake in Bergen? Yes, though we must admit thatthe clew was of a very vague nature.
He knew merely the date on which the bottle had been cast into the seaby Ole Kamp, and the date and locality in which it had been recoveredfrom the waves. He had learned those facts through the letter justreceived from the Naval Department, the letter which had decided himto leave for Bergen immediately, in order that he might consult withHelp Bros., and with the most experienced seamen of that port.
The journey was made as quickly as possible. On reaching Moel, SylviusHogg sent his companion back with the kariol, and took passage uponone of the birch-bark canoes that are used in traversing the waters ofLake Finn. Then, at Tinoset, instead of turning his steps toward thesouth--that is to say, in the direction of Bamble--he hired anotherkariol, and took the Hardanger route, in order to reach the gulf ofthat name in the shortest possible time. From there, a little steamercalled the "Run" transported him to the mouth of the gulf, andfinally, after crossing a network of fiords and inlets, between theislands and islets that stud the Norwegian coast, he landed at Bergenon the morning of the second of July.
This old city, laved by the waters of both the Logne and Hardanger,is delightfully situated in a picturesque region which would bear astriking resemblance to Switzerland if an artificial arm of the seashould ever conduct the waters of the blue Mediterranean to the footof the Alps.
A magnificent avenue of ash trees leads to the town.
The houses, with their fantastic, pointed gables, are as dazzlingin their whiteness as the habitations of Arabian cities, and are allcongregated in an irregular triangle that contains a populationof about thirty thousand souls. Its churches date from the twelfthcentury. Its tall cathedral is visible from afar to vessels returningfrom sea, and it is the capital of commercial Norway, thoughsituated off the regular lines of travel, and a long distancefrom the two cities which rank first and second in the kingdom,politically--Christiania and Drontheim.
Under any other circumstances the professor would have taken greatpleasure in studying this important city, which is Dutch rather thanNorwegian in its aspect and manners. It had been one of the citiesincluded in his original route, but since his adventure on theMaristien and his subsequent sojourn at Dal, his plans had undergoneimportant changes.
Sylvius Hogg was no longer the traveling deputy, anxious to ascertainthe exact condition of the country from a commercial as well as apolitical point of view. He was the guest of the Hansens, the debtorof Joel and Hulda, whose interests now outweighed all else in hisestimation--a debtor who was resolved to pay his debt of gratitude atany cost, though he felt that what he was about to attempt for themwas but a trifle.
On his arrival in Bergen, Sylvius Hogg landed at the lower end ofthe town, on the wharf used as a fish-market, but he lost no time inrepairing to the part of the town known as the Tyske Bodrone quarter,where Help, Junior, of the house of Help Bros., resided.
It was raining, of course, for rain falls in Bergen on at least threehundred and sixty days of every year; but it would be impossibleto find a house better protected against the wind and rain than thehospitable mansion of Help, Junior, and nowhere could Sylvius Hogghave received a warmer and more cordial welcome. His friend tookpossession of him very much as if he had been some precious bale ofmerchandise which had been consigned to his care, and which would bedelivered up only upon the presentation of a formal order.
Sylvius Hogg immediately made known the object of his visit to Help,Junior. He inquired if any news had yet been received of the "Viking,"and if Bergen mariners were really of the opinion that she had gonedown with all on board. He also inquired if this probable shipwreck,which had plunged so many homes into mourning, had not led themaritime authorities to make some search for the missing vessel.
"But where were they to begin?" replied Help, Junior. "They do noteven know where the shipwreck occurred."
"True, my dear Help, and for that very reason they should endeavor toascertain."
"But how?"
"Why, though they do not know where the 'Viking' foundered, theycertainly know where the bottle was picked up by the Danish vessel. Sowe have one valuable clew which it would be very wrong to ignore."
"Where was it?"
"Listen, my dear Help, and I will tell you."
Sylvius Hogg then apprised his friend of the important informationwhich had just been received through the Naval Department, and thefull permission given him to utilize it.
The bottle containing Ole Kamp's lottery-ticket had been picked up onthe third of June, about two hundred miles south of Iceland, by theschooner "Christian," of Elsineur, Captain Mosselman, and the wind wasblowing strong from the south-east at the time.
The captain had immediately examined the contents of the bottle, as itwas certainly his duty to do, inasmuch as he might-have rendered veryeffectual aid to the survivors of the "Viking" had he known wherethe catastrophe occurred; but the lines scrawled upon the back of thelottery-ticket gave no clew, so the "Christian" could not direct hercourse to the scene of the shipwreck.
This Captain Mosselman was an honest man. Very possibly some lessscrupulous person would have kept the ticket; but he had only onethought--to transmit the ticket to the person to whom it was addressedas soon as he entered port. Hulda Hansen, of Dal, that was enough. Itwas not necessary to know any more.
But on reaching Copenhagen, Captain Mosselman said to himself that itwould perhaps be better to transmit the document through the hands ofthe Danish authorities, instead of sending it straight to the personfor whom it was intended. This would be the safest, as well asthe regular way. He did so, and the Naval Department at Copenhagenpromptly notified the Naval Department at Christiania.
Sylvius Hogg's letter, asking for information in regard to the"Viking," had already been received, and the deep interest he took inthe Hansen family was well known. It was known, too, that he intendedto remain in Dal some time longer, so it was there that the ticketfound by the Danish sea-captain was sent, to be delivered into HuldaHansen's hands by the famous deputy.
And ever since that time the public had taken a deep interest in theaffair, which had not been forgotten, thanks to the touching detailsgiven by the newspapers of both continents.
Sylvius Hogg stated the case briefly to his friend Help, who listenedto him with the deepest interest, and without once interrupting him.He concluded his recital by saying:
"There is certainly one point about which there can be no possibledoubt: this is, that on the third day of June, about one month afterthe departure from Saint-Pierre-Miquelon, the ticket was picked up twohundred miles south-west of Iceland."
"And that is all you know?"
"Yes, my dear Help, but by consulting some of the most experiencedmariners of Bergen, men who are familiar with that locality, with thegeneral direction of its winds, and, above-all, with its currents,will it not be a comparatively easy matter to decide upon the routefollowed by the bottle? Then, by calculating its probable speed, andthe time that elapsed before it was picked up, it certainly would notbe impossible to discover the spot at which it was cast into the seaby Ole Kamp, that is to say, the scene of the shipwreck."
Help, Junior, shook his head with a doubting air. Would not any searchthat was based upon such vague indications as these be sure to prove afailure? The shipowner, being of a decided, cool and practical turnof mind, certainly thought so, and felt it his duty to say as much toSylvius Hogg.
"Perhaps it may prove a failure, friend Help," was the promptrejoinder; "but the fact that we have been abl
e to secure only vagueinformation, is certainly no reason for abandoning the undertaking. Iam anxious that nothing shall be left undone for these poor people towhom I am indebted for my life. Yes, if need be, I would not hesitateto sacrifice all I possess to find Ole Kamp, and bring him safely backto his betrothed, Hulda Hansen."
Then Sylvius Hogg proceeded to give a full account of his adventureon the Rjukanfos. He related the intrepid manner in which Joel and hissister had risked their own lives to save him, and how, but for theirtimely assistance, he would not have had the pleasure of being theguest of his friend Help that day.
His friend Help, as we said before, was an eminently practical man,but he was not opposed to useless and even impossible efforts whena question of humanity was involved, and he finally approved whatSylvius Hogg wished to attempt.
"Sylvius," he said, "I will assist you by every means in my power.Yes, you are right. However small the chance of finding some survivorof the 'Viking' may be, and especially of finding this brave Ole whosebetrothed saved your life, it must not be neglected."
"No, Help, no," interrupted the professor; "not if it were but onechance in a hundred thousand."
"So this very day, Sylvius, I will assemble all the most experiencedseamen of Bergen in my office. I will send for all who have navigatedor who are now navigating the ocean between Iceland and Newfoundland,and we will see what they advise us to do."
"And what they advise us to do we will do," added Sylvius Hogg,without an instant's hesitation. "I have the approval of thegovernment. In fact, I am authorized to send one of its dispatch-boatsin search of the 'Viking,' and I feel sure that no one will hesitateto take part in such a work."
"I will pay a visit to the marine bureau, and see what I can learnthere," remarked Help, Junior.
"Would you like me to accompany you?"
"It is not necessary, and you must be fatigued."
"Fatigued! I--at my age?"
"Nevertheless, you had better rest until my return, my dear andever-young Sylvius."
That same day there was a large meeting of captains of merchant andwhaling vessels, as well as pilots, in the office of Help Bros.--anassemblage of men who were still navigating the seas, as well as ofthose who had retired from active service.
Sylvius Hogg explained the situation briefly but clearly. He told themthe date--May 3d--on which the bottle had been cast into the sea byOle Kamp, and the date--June 3d--on which it had been picked up by theDanish captain, two hundred miles south-west of Iceland.
The discussion that followed was long and serious. There was not oneof these brave men who were not familiar with the currents of thatlocality, and upon the direction of these currents they must, ofcourse, chiefly depend for a solution of the problem.
But it was an incontestable fact that at the time of the shipwreck,and during the interval that elapsed between the sailing of the"Viking" from Saint-Pierre-Miquelon, and the discovery of the bottleby the Danish vessel, constant gales from the south-east had disturbedthat portion of the Atlantic. In fact, it was to one of these tempeststhat the catastrophe must be attributed. Probably the "Viking," beingunable to carry sail in the teeth of the tempest, had been obliged toscud before the windy and it being at this season of the year that theice from the polar seas begins to make its way down into the Atlantic,it was more than likely that a collision had taken place, and thatthe "Viking" had been crushed by a floating iceberg, which it wasimpossible to avoid.
Still, in that case, was it not more than probable that the whole,or a part, of the ship's crew had taken refuge upon one of these icefields after having placed a quantity of provisions upon it? If theyhad really done so, the iceberg, having certainly been driven in anorth-westerly direction by the winds which were prevailing at thetime, it was not unlikely that the survivors had been able to reachsome point on the coast of Greenland, so it was in that direction, andin those seas, that search should be made.
This was the unanimous opinion of these experienced mariners, andthere could be no doubt that this was the only feasible plan. Butwould they find aught save a few fragments of the "Viking" in case thevessel had been crushed by some enormous iceberg? Could they hope toeffect the rescue of any survivors?
This was more than doubtful, and the professor on putting the questionperceived that the more competent could not, or would not, reply.Still, this was no cause for inaction--they were all agreed upon thatpoint--but action must be taken without delay.
There are always several government vessels at Bergen, and one ofthe three dispatch-boats charged with the surveillance of the westerncoast of Norway is attached to this port. As good luck would have it,that very boat was now riding at anchor in the bay.
After making a note of the various suggestions advanced by the mostexperienced seamen who had assembled at the office of Help, Junior,Sylvius Hogg went aboard the dispatch-boat "Telegraph," and apprisedthe commander of the special mission intrusted to him by thegovernment.
The commander received him very cordially, and declared hiswillingness to render all the assistance in his power. He had becomefamiliar with the navigation of the locality specified during severallong and dangerous voyages from the Loffoden Islands and Finmark tothe Iceland and Newfoundland fisheries; so he would have experienceto aid him in the humane work he was about to undertake, as he fullyagreed with the seamen already consulted that it was in the watersbetween Iceland and Greenland that they must look for the survivors,or at least for some trace of the "Viking." If he did not succeedthere, he would, however, explore the neighboring shores, and perhapsthe eastern part of Baffin's Bay.
"I am all ready to start, sir," he added. "My coal and provisionsare on board, my crew has been selected, and I can set sail this veryday."
"Thank you, captain," replied the professor, "not only for yourpromptness, but for the very kind reception you have given me. But onequestion more: Can you tell me how long it will take you to reach theshores of Greenland?"
"My vessel makes about eleven knots an hour, and as the distance fromBergen to Greenland is only about twenty degrees, I can count uponarriving there in less than a week."
"Make all possible haste, captain," replied Sylvius Hogg. "If anyof the shipwrecked crew did survive the catastrophe, two months havealready elapsed since the vessel went down, and they are perhaps in adestitute and even famishing condition upon some desert coast."
"Yes, there is no time to lose, Monsieur Hogg. I will start this veryday, keep my vessel going at the top of her speed, and as soon asI find any trace whatever I will inform the Naval Department atChristiania by a telegram from Newfoundland."
"God-speed you, captain," replied Sylvius Hogg, "and may you succeed."
That same day the "Telegraph" set sail, followed by the sympathizingcheers of the entire population of Bergen, and it was not without keenemotion that the kind-hearted people watched the vessel make its waydown the channel, and finally disappear behind the islands of thefiord.
But Sylvius Hogg did not confine his efforts to the expeditionundertaken by the dispatch-boat "Telegraph." On the contrary, he wasresolved to multiply the chances of finding some trace of the missing"Viking." Would it not be possible to excite a spirit of emulation inthe captains of merchant vessels and fishing-smacks that navigated thewaters of Iceland and the Faroe Islands? Unquestionably. So a rewardof two thousand marks was promised in the name of the government toany vessel that would furnish any information in regard to the missing"Viking," and one of five thousand marks to any vessel that wouldbring one of the survivors of the shipwreck back to his native land.
So, during the two days spent in Bergen Sylvius Hogg did everythingin his power to insure the success of the enterprise, and he wascheerfully seconded in his efforts by Help, Junior, and all themaritime authorities. M. Help would have been glad to have the worthydeputy as a guest some time longer, but though Sylvius Hogg thankedhim cordially he declined to prolong his stay. He was anxious torejoin Hulda and Joel, being afraid to leave them to themselves toolong, but He
lp, Junior, promised him that any news that might bereceived should be promptly transmitted to Dal.
So, on the morning of the 4th, after taking leave of his friendHelp, Sylvius Hogg re-embarked on the "Run" to cross the fiord of theHardanger, and if nothing unforeseen occurred he counted on reachingthe Telemark by the evening of the 5th.
