Trapped in Ice by Eric Walters

return, they were less pleased to follow his leadership.
    â€œIs there any man here fool enough ta believe Mr. Stefansson will be returning?” Captain Bartlett asked.
    There was no answer and many turned their eyes to the floor.
    â€œGood! At least we all know the truth. An’ as long as I’m leadin’ this party my orders will be followed. Understand?”
    There was a heavy, explosive silence as everybody waited for a reply.
    â€œI am certain Mr. Stefansson will not support your plan and you will suffer the consequences when we finally arrive at Herschel Island, Captain,” Dr. Murray threatened.
    â€œHerschel Island is not our destination,” Captain Bartlett answered.
    â€œWhat do you mean? Mr. Stefansson will be waiting for us there and expect us to continue our expedition,” thundered Mr. Beauchat.
    â€œOur goal, sir, is stayin’ alive. Nothin’ more, an’ nothin’ less. We want ta live. We can’t reach Herschel. Each day we sit here in the ice, the ice keeps movin’. Twenty ta forty miles west, each day, farther away from Herschel. Is that not so, Dr. Murray?”
    Dr. Murray looked uncomfortable, as if he didn’t want to confirm what had just been asked.
    â€œIs it not true, Dr. Murray?” the Captain repeated.
    â€œI’m afraid so. My readings indicate movement in that amount, daily, depending on the ocean currents.”
    â€œSledding tawards the east, even if ya could travel forty miles in a day, which no man here can, would just keep us in the same place. We have ta head ta the west.”
    â€œTo the west! There’s nothing to the west but open ocean.”
    â€œSiberia,” Captain Bartlett said quietly. “We have ta cross the ice ... find land ... an’ the only land we’re going ta find is tawards Siberia.”
    â€œAnd do you suggest we leave right away?” asked Dr. Mackay.
    â€œNo gain. Ship’s movin’ where we want ta go. We have ta stay with her as long as she stays with us. There’s always a chance, somehow, she’ll stay afloat.”
    â€œAs you are aware, Captain Bartlett, Dr. Mackay and I travelled by sled halfway across the Antarctic with Sir Ernest Shackleton. We covered much greater distances than our present position is from the shore,” said Dr. Murray.
    â€œYep. Quite an accomplishment it was, sir, truly. I am a great admirer of Sir Ernest, an’ appreciate your expertise with dog an’ sled. Your daring an’ determination was truly inspirational.”
    â€œVery kind of you, Captain,” Dr. Murray replied.
    â€œAn’ I know when the time is right we’re goin’ ta be countin’ on the two of ya very heavily for that expertise. But the thing here is that ya don’t have any land under your feet. Between us an’ land is plenty of open water an’ shiftin’ ice pans. Experienced men such as the two of ya might make it, but ya might not. ’Sides, I have to think of the lives of all the party. Do ya really want ta take young Michael or Helen ’cross the shiftin’ ice?”
    I felt all the eyes in the galley swing around and focus on Michael and me.
    â€œOf course not, good man, but as you yourself stated, across the ice is our only escape.”
    â€œThat’s God’s truth, sir. But, because I have ta travel the ice doesn’t mean I can’t travel it smartly. Firstly, as we sits here talkin’, we’re driftin’ in the right direction. I’d rather move sittin’ here drinking my coffee than on the back of a sled. Second, each day the ice gets thicker and safer ta travel on. Thirdly, this trip will take upwards of five weeks on the open ice and we have ta wait till the temperature rises an’ the sun returns. Come late November we won’t be seeing a sunrise till some time in February.”
    â€œFebruary! Are you proposing that we don’t take to the ice for three