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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:49 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:49 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/30463-0.txt b/30463-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3304b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1588 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30463 *** + + [Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER IN CHINA, By the _Air-Line_ Route.] + + + [Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER AT THE NORTH POLE.] + + + + JOHN WHOPPER + + THE NEWSBOY. + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. + + BOSTON: + ROBERTS BROTHERS. + 1871. + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by + + ROBERTS BROTHERS, + + In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + + + + Stereotyped and Printed by + ALFRED MUDGE & SON, + Boston, Mass. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA. + + +Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I +started as usual very early to distribute my papers. I had a large +bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut +across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica +Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time. I do not care to tell +precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, +barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve. + +After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had +better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to +clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, +that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to +put my feet. All at once I lost my balance, and felt that I was sliding +down the side of a smooth, steep rock; while underneath, to my horror, I +saw what looked like a circular cave, or well, some five or six feet in +diameter. I tried to grasp the rock with my hands, and ground my heels +as hard as I could against the surface, but it was of no use; down I +slipped, faster and faster, until at last I plunged, feet foremost, into +the dark hole below. For a moment I held my breath, expecting to be +dashed to pieces; and oh, how many things I thought of in that short +minute! It seemed as if every thing that I had ever done came back to +me, especially all the _bad_ things; and how I wished then that I had +lived a better life! I thought, too, of my poor mother and my little +brother and sister at home, and how they would wait breakfast for me +that morning; and how they would keep on waiting and waiting, hour after +hour and day after day; and how the neighbors would all turn out and +search for me; and how I should never be found, and nobody would ever +know what had become of me. And then I wondered whether Mr. Simpson, +who employed me to distribute the papers, would suppose that I had run +away somewhere, to sell them on my own account; and so I went on +thinking and wondering, until it seemed as if there was no end to the +time. And yet I didn't strike the bottom of the cave, but just went on +falling and falling, faster and faster, in the darkness, and sometimes +just grazing the sides, and still not so as to hurt me much. My great +trouble was to breathe; when it occurred to me to lay the sleeve of my +coat across my mouth: and then I found that I could breathe through the +cloth with tolerable ease. After a while, I recovered my senses; and +though I continued to fall on still faster and faster, I experienced no +great inconvenience. How long this continued, I cannot tell; it +appeared to be an age; and I must have been falling for several hours, +when I began to feel as though I was not sinking as fast as I had been; +and after a while, it seemed as if I were rising up, rather than +tumbling down. As I was now able to breathe much more freely than I had +done, I began to think calmly about my condition; and then the thought +flashed across my mind, that perhaps I had passed the centre of the +earth, and was gradually rising to the surface on the other side. This +gave me hope; and when I found that I continued to move slower and +slower, I tried to collect my faculties, so that I might know just what +it would be best to do, if I should be so fortunate as to reach the +other end of the hole into which I had tumbled. At last, looking down, +I saw a little speck of light, like a very faint star; and then, I tell +you, my heart bounded with joy. At this moment it suddenly occurred to +me that it would not do to come out of the hole _feet foremost_; and, by +a tremendous effort, I managed to turn a complete summersault,--what the +boys always called a _somerset_,--which, of course, brought me into the +right position. How thankful I felt that I had been taught to practise +gymnastic exercises at the school in Roxbury! In my present attitude I +couldn't see the bright spot any longer: but, before long, I perceived +that it was growing lighter around me; and I was confident that the time +of my release drew near. I had determined exactly what I would do when +I reached the surface of the earth again; and, accordingly, on the +instant that my head came out of the hole, I grasped the edge with all +my might, and, by another terrible effort, swung myself up into the air, +and leaped upon the ground. + +It is impossible to describe the strange thrill that passed over me when +I thus found myself standing on what I knew must be the eastern side of +the globe. As soon as I had fairly recovered the use of my reason, I +began to speculate as to the region of the country into which I emerged. +If I had come directly through the centre of the earth, I knew, of +course, just where I ought to be; but this hardly seemed possible, +considering how short a time it had required for my journey. It then +occurred to me that I was really unable to form any accurate idea of +the number of hours that had elapsed since I left the soil of +Massachusetts; for, before I had fallen a hundred feet, a whole age +appeared to have passed. I knew that it was about six o'clock in the +morning when I started; and, on looking at my watch, I found that it had +stopped at 6.45, owing, as I afterwards ascertained, to the influence of +magnetic currents upon the hair-spring. + +The country around was in a high state of cultivation, except in the +immediate vicinity of the spot where I stood. This was rough and barren, +and so situated that the small cavity in the earth from which I had just +been released, would be very likely to escape observation. Thinking that +it might be important for me to be able hereafter to identify the +locality, I took a careful observation of its general bearings, and +twisted together a few of the twigs that grew near the hole, but in such +a manner as would not be likely to arrest attention. + +Striking off now at random, I soon found myself in a low, marshy region, +covered with a species of grain unlike any thing I had ever seen before, +but which I concluded must be rice; and then the thought came to me, +that very probably I was in China. After walking for an hour or two, I +reached a rising ground, and saw in the distance an immense city on the +water's edge; which from its position, and resemblance to certain +pictures that I had once seen in Boston, I believed to be Canton. +Refreshing myself with some fruit that grew by the wayside, I started +off in haste, in order, if possible, to reach the city before nightfall. +Just as the sun was setting, I entered what appeared to be one of the +main streets; when, tired and hungry and footsore, I began to think +seriously what I should do to procure food and lodging. Here I was,--a +poor boy in a strange land, unable to address a word to the people +around me, and with only a few cents and two or three bits of paper +currency in my pocket, that could be of no value in that country. _What +was I to do?_ Just then I came to a large and respectable-looking +building; and over the door there was this sign, in good plain +characters:-- + + "ENGLISH AND AMERICAN COFFEE-HOUSE." + +Tears of joy filled my eyes. In an instant, I said to myself, "Your +fortune is made, old fellow! Here you have thirty or forty Boston +newspapers, not twenty-four hours old, strapped around your neck; and I +rather think they will be in some demand in Canton." + +With a light heart I now entered the office of the hotel, and threw down +my bundle, with a good, black-leather covering around the papers, so +that it looked like an ordinary piece of luggage, which gave me the +appearance of a regular traveller; then called for a room, and ordered +supper. It was true that I had very little money in my possession,--not +enough, certainly, to pay my bill at the hotel; but no questions were +asked, and I gave myself little concern as to the future. I had a +first-rate appetite, and ate voraciously. + +After supper was over, I took my bundle in my hand, and strolled +leisurely into a pleasant and spacious room, where a number of +gentlemen--English and American--were sitting around in groups, some +chatting together, and others reading the London and New York and Boston +papers. Among them I recognized the face of a merchant whom I had seen +several times in State Street; and slinging the strap over my shoulder +in a careless, every-day sort of tone, just as any newsboy would have +done at home, I went up to him and said, "Have the morning papers, +Mister?--'morning papers?'--'Advertiser,' 'Journal,' 'Post,' 'Herald,' +last edition,--published this morning, _only five dollars_!" Everybody +in the room looked up, for I managed, as newsboys generally do, to speak +loud enough to drown every other sound; but no one uttered a word. It +was evident that they thought I was crazy, or something worse; and so I +just cried out again, "Have the morning paper, sir?" at the same time +thrusting a copy of "The Advertiser" into his hand. He looked like an +"Advertiser" kind of man,--well dressed and highly respectable. + +Involuntarily his eye glanced at the date,--"Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1867"; +and then, in an excited, quivering tone, he said, "Let me look at your +other papers." There was a long table in the centre of the room, which I +approached; and, slowly unfolding my bundle, I laid a few of the papers +wide open in front of the gentlemen, who crowded around in the highest +state of excitement. Still there was dead silence; when one of them +suddenly burst out with the exclamation, "Good heavens! Here is a notice +of the arrival of 'The Golconda' at New York, with a full account of the +cargo, and every thing else correct. Why, this must be genuine!" + +One after another followed with a cry of surprise at some news which +they had found; until, in a few minutes, every gentleman in the room was +absorbed in reading the papers, appearing to have entirely forgotten all +about me, and not caring to ask how it was that I had brought them to +China in less than twenty-four hours. After I had stood there whistling +carelessly as long as I thought worth while, I spoke up in a loud +voice, and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to be enjoying the news +pretty well. I hope you don't mean to forget to pay for the +papers,--_only five dollars a copy_!" + +At this speech every one of them looked at me with a strange expression, +as if they hardly knew whether I was a real human boy or something else; +when the Boston gentleman said, "How on earth did you get these papers +here?" To which I answered very carelessly, "I didn't get them here _on_ +earth." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will tell you what I mean, and answer your questions, after you have +paid me _five dollars each; and cheap at that, considering_." + +"Indeed it is, for me at least," said one of the gentlemen. "What I have +learned from this paper is worth to me, in a business way, thousands of +dollars"; and with that he came forward and put a hundred into my hand, +in the good, solid form of gold-pieces. His example had its effect upon +the others. Instead of the two hundred which I had hoped to receive for +my forty newspapers, I was actually in possession of not less +than--well, I don't care to tell exactly how much, on account of the +income-tax. + +"Come, now," said the gentlemen, almost in one breath, "tell us how +these papers came to China." + +"I brought them myself." + +"When did you leave America?" + +"The morning when these papers were printed: but how long ago that was, +I really don't know, as my watch stopped while I was on my voyage; only +I thought it was just as well to call out, as I always used to do at +home, 'Morning paper!' although, perhaps, for all I can tell, they may +be two or perhaps three days old; anyhow, I guess you find them a good +deal fresher than the rest you have got on hand." + +Having delivered myself of this somewhat protracted speech, I began +moving towards the door with the air of one who had said every thing +that could reasonably be expected, in reply to the curious inquiries of +my liberal patrons, when the Boston merchant motioned for me to stop, +saying with some severity, "Did you not promise that you would inform +the company how these papers came from America to China in such an +incredibly short period of time, whenever you should have received your +pay for the same?" + +"Yes, sir; and I just told you that I brought them over--not exactly +_over_--but--in short, I brought them here." + +"You say, 'not exactly _over_'; do you mean by that phrase to be +understood to say that you did not come over land?" + +"Your honor has hit my meaning precisely." + +"You don't pretend to say that you came by water?" + +"Far from it, sir." + +"How then, _under the heavens_, did you come?" + +"I didn't come under the heavens at all." + +"I don't believe," said the irritated gentleman, turning to his +companions, "that the fellow came at all; he must be lying." + +All the answer that he received was the rustling of forty newspapers, +bearing the imprint, "February 16, 1867, Boston." There was no getting +over this. + +After a pause of several minutes, during which a bright idea entered my +mind, I came forward into the circle, and said, "Well, gentlemen, I want +to see if I can make a good bargain with you; and when that is settled, +I will tell you how I came over--I mean, I will tell you how I got here; +that is, I will tell you _the route_ that I took. If I can arrange for +the delivery in Canton of the New York and Boston daily papers, within +thirty-six hours of the time when they are issued in those cities, will +you all promise to give me your generous patronage?" + +"Of course we will," they cried all together. + +"Very well; then I pledge myself to appear again in this place one week +from this day, ready to carry out my part of the bargain. And now, in +bidding you good-night, allow me to inform you that I came from America +to China by the _air-line_." + +With this I retired at once to my room, and was soon sleeping soundly. + +I knew that I should be watched so closely the next day as to make it +impossible for me to escape without detection; and accordingly I got up +an hour or two before daylight; and, having laid upon the table in my +room an amount of money which I supposed would be considered a fair +compensation for my supper and lodging, I tied the sheets together, and +lowered myself down into the then silent and deserted street. It was not +long before I found myself once more in the open country; and looking +carefully for the twisted twigs that I had tied together the afternoon +before, I soon discovered the chasm through which I had made my +remarkable trip to the eastern hemisphere. Taking the precaution to tie +a handkerchief over my mouth in order that I might economize my breath, +I summoned all my courage, and leaped into the hole. My experiences were +precisely the same as they had been in the previous journey; and in +course of a few hours, I found myself standing once more in the +familiar outskirts of Roxbury, and gazing tenderly upon the solemn dome +of Boston State House. As fast as my legs would take me, I rushed to my +poor mother's humble abode, longing to relieve the bitter agony to which +I knew she and my brother and sister must have been subjected during my +absence. It is not worth while for me to describe at length the scene +that ensued when I stood once more in the family circle, with my +mother's arms around my neck, and the young folks bellowing with joy. To +the frantic inquiries that were showered upon me as to what had +happened,--where I had been,--had I had any thing to eat? I coolly +replied that I had not had much to eat; and, if they would give me a +good, substantial supper, I would endeavor to relieve their minds. + +"Supper, indeed!" cried my good mother; "why, it's just after sunrise! +You haven't lost your senses, I hope." + +"I beg your pardon; but it was about sunrise hours and hours ago, when +I--when I"--and here I faltered, not caring just then to let the whole +family into my secret. + +"When you what?" said my mother, looking very anxious. + +"Why, when I left Canton," I now answered, very promptly. + +"You don't say that you have been to Canton?" she replied, but without +any such show of astonishment as might have been expected. + +"Yes, I have, mother. It occurred to me that I could sell my papers to +better advantage there than I could about here; and, indeed, I did, as +you may see." Whereupon I laid in her good old hand such a sum of money +as she had not clasped for many a day. + +"Did you get all this money by selling papers in Canton?" + +"I did, and a great deal more; which I am going to deposit by and by in +the Savings Bank to your credit." + +"There must be an awful demand for papers in Canton." + +"There is, mother; and they pay such high prices there, that I am +thinking of setting up a news establishment in the place." + +"And did you _walk_ all the way to Canton day before yesterday, my +boy?" + +"Then it was day before yesterday morning when I left home? I thought it +was longer ago than that." + +"Longer ago! Oh, dear, dear! you are not out of your head, my son?" + +"My good mother, I am as sound as you are. Only you know that sometimes, +when we are very much occupied, the time passes quickly; and I have been +quite busy since I left you." + +"And did you say that you walked to Canton?" + +"No, mother, I didn't walk a step." + +"Then you took the Providence cars?" + +"Well, mother, it was a kind of a providence car." + +[John's statement at once relieved the old lady's mind; but those of our +readers who are not intimately acquainted with the geography of +Massachusetts, may be somewhat puzzled at this. For the information of +foreigners and uneducated people in general, we must mention that there +is a thriving village on the Boston and Providence railroad, about ten +miles from Roxbury, which rejoices in the name of Canton. + +It may here be observed, that the young man's mind had got into a kind +of chronological muddle, and the days and nights were mixed up together +in the most miscellaneous manner. We, who are competent to solve any +ordinary problem, furnish our young readers with this explanation. John +left our American soil on Tuesday morning, at or about six o'clock. He +is twelve hours--there or thereabouts--passing through the earth. This +brings him to China also in the morning, as every thing is topsy-turvy +on the other side of the globe. His walk to Canton fills up most of the +day,--_Tuesday night here_. He sleeps in Canton one night. _Wednesday +here_; leaves Canton, _via_ Air-Line, the next morning,--_Wednesday +night here_; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent +from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling _via_ +Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country +in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British +and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and +consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his +singular tale of adventure, we remarked that he seemed to have had a +very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole +forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which +repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was +filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body. +We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet +again, and we let him speak for himself.] + +"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,--a bright +fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,--I told him in strict confidence +the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for +the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation. + +"I am now going," said I, "to Mr. Simpson's office, and shall pay him +handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with +him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in +advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock +precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up +and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the +centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,--always being +very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet +above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise +just four feet _above_ the surface on the other side, and I shall be +able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on +the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months, which ought +to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time +that you will be obliged to give to the work. + +"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On +every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an +hour; and between six and half-past six o'clock, be on the careful +lookout for a bundle _which I shall send to you_ from the other side. +This will contain my remittance for the week, which I wish you to +deposit to mother's credit in three places, the names of which I give +you on paper. She can then draw from time to time such sums as she may +need. + +"I shall remain at home for a few days and arrange to be in China next +Monday evening. On Tuesday morning you will forward the bundle of +papers." + +"Are you going to tell mother and sister all about this?" said Bob. + +"No: it would only worry them. I shall merely say that I have a great +opening for making money, and shall be obliged to be absent from home +for several months." + +"I think," said Bob, chuckling,--Bob labored under the delusion that he +was a wag,--"that it _is_ a great opening, or rather, I might say, a +_lengthy_ opening." + +Every thing was duly arranged according to the programme; and, on the +following Monday, I bade adieu for a while to the sweet light of day,--I +don't mean that I said exactly these words as I stood on the edge of the +hole--but that is the way in which it would be expressed in a +book,--and jumped boldly into the dark abyss. In due time I arrived +safely in China, and took lodgings in a small country inn about two +miles off, as I did not care to show myself at the Canton Coffee-House +until I had the papers in my possession. + +It was with a somewhat anxious heart that I went to my Air-Line Station, +as I had taken a fancy to call it, on Tuesday evening. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW JOHN GOT INTO TROUBLE IN CHINA. + + +It was Tuesday evening in good old Massachusetts, but not far from the +break of day in China. In order that I might be more sure to catch the +bundle of papers on its arrival, I had woven a net-work with my strong +twine, and securely fastened it to a stout wooden hoop. This I then +attached to a pole about six feet in length, and stood ready to swing +the net under the package as soon as it came within reach. The hour at +which I had calculated that the bundle ought to come in sight, provided +Bob had been prompt to the time that I had prescribed, had now passed, +and I began to feel excited and uneasy. "What if Bob had forgotten to +hold the package high enough from the surface when he dropped it, and so +the momentum had not proved sufficient to drive it _clear through_ the +hole? What if it had struck against the sides of the cavity, and so the +friction had stopped it on the way? What if the velocity with which it +must have fallen during the first few thousand miles had torn the +package in pieces, and the papers had been left floating about in the +centre of the earth? What if Bob had been taken ill?"--just at this +moment my fears and speculations were arrested by the sight of a small +white object, looking like a flake of snow, away down the hole, +hundreds of feet away, as it seemed to me. My heart almost ceased to +beat; the white object was coming nearer and nearer, and looking larger +and larger every second. But it is moving slower and slower all the +time, as if it was nearly tired out! Perhaps it will not come _quite_ +within reach after all? What an awful disappointment that would be! No! +it doesn't quite stop--_up_ it comes--ten feet more and I will have it; +five feet more--hurra! underneath goes the stout net, and the precious +bundle is clasped safely in my arms. + +I was so exhausted by anxiety and excitement, that I had to sit down for +a while, that I might recover my strength. I really do not think that I +was half so much overcome when I first came out of the hole myself. + +And now for the city, to keep my appointment with the gentlemen at the +Coffee-House. I had hired a pony to carry me to Canton, and had fastened +it to a tree near by; and very soon I was galloping off like lightning. +About ten o'clock, I reached the hotel; and, after stopping for a glass +of water at the office to clear my throat, I entered the room where I +knew my patrons would be assembled, and threw my bundle down upon the +table. + +Every man there started to his feet; but such was their surprise at my +appearance,--for not a soul amongst them ever dreamed that I would keep +my appointment,--that for one or two minutes, as before, not a word was +spoken. While they all stood around staring at me as if I had just +dropped from the clouds, I proceeded very leisurely to untie the +strings of the package; when, with a simultaneous movement, my eager +customers rushed towards the table, reaching out their hands frantically +for the papers. + +"Gentlemen," said I, in a clear, collected voice, "before proceeding to +distribute the mail, allow me to offer a few brief remarks." I had +written out this speech, and committed it to memory. "It is very natural +that you should have great curiosity to know by what means I have +managed to redeem the pledge that I gave you a short time ago. In the +presence of gentlemen so enlightened as you are, I hardly need to say +that the speedy communication which I have been enabled to make with the +Western world is effected by no supernatural agency, but by a wonderful +discovery in the realms of nature, the precise character of which I do +not at present consider it expedient to disclose. Let it suffice, that I +am able to furnish you, at reasonable rates, with the latest +intelligence from the United States of America; and I wish it to be +distinctly understood, that if I ever have reason to suspect that my +movements are watched, or that any efforts are made to detect my secret, +from that time my contract with you is at an end. I also desire to +stipulate that no statement of my transactions with you shall be allowed +to find its way into the public prints, either in China or America. Let +the whole matter remain a profound secret between us; your own interest +will be consulted by this as well as mine. If, indeed, it should so +happen that you should ever see any remarkable and novel movement in +the heavens, of course I cannot hinder you from forming your own +impressions, and making your own deductions from the phenomena. + +"And now, gentlemen, every morning between ten and eleven o'clock, I +propose to be here with the papers; _price one dollar per copy, cash on +delivery_." + +The bundle, containing one hundred papers, was immediately disposed of; +some gentlemen taking two or three, and others half a dozen. + +The tongues of my patrons were now unloosed, and they all acceded +unhesitatingly to the terms which I had proposed. An elderly Englishman, +with a very white waistcoat, and a very large watch-chain, came up to +me, and, patting my shoulder, said, "Why, my son, you have done better +than you promised; you have given us the newspapers in much less than +thirty-six hours after their issue at home." + +"Yes, sir," I replied; "I intended to get them here in about _sixteen_ +hours; but I thought it more prudent to say thirty-six, +because--because"--I hardly knew what reason to give, without betraying +myself--"because, sir, I wasn't certain how the magnetic currents might +operate." + +"Ah-hah-ah, I begin to see. Magnetic currents in the heavens, in the +atmosphere." + +"Yes, sir," I answered promptly, "in the _atmosphere_." + +This was true enough; but I could not say in the _heavens_, without +telling an untruth; and this I always regarded as a great sin. + +"Don't you think," continued my English friend, "that, when you bring +the American papers over, you could just stop on the way, and get a copy +or two of 'The London Times'?" + +"I do not go for the papers myself." + +"You don't mean to say that they come entirely by themselves?" he +replied, looking more perplexed and astounded than I can describe. + +"Of course not," I said, breaking into a hearty laugh. "I have a partner +on the other side, who will forward them to me every morning." + +"Then they do come of themselves, after they are once started?" + +"Why, yes," I said, feeling a little embarrassed, and very much afraid +that I might commit myself, "after the proper impulse and direction are +given, they do come of themselves." + +"But how, in the name of all that is marvellous, after the package gets +into the right magnetic current, does it manage to alight in this +vicinity?" + +"That is easily explained by the laws of gravity." + +The attention of all present was arrested by this conversation, and I +began to feel that I was getting upon dangerous ground. + +"Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, taking hold of the handle of the door, +"from answering any more questions at this time. My mind is getting a +little confused; and, what is more, I am very hungry." Upon which I +retired to the dining-room. + +Every thing went on successfully during the remainder of the week; all +the packages arrived safely and in good order, and on Friday evening I +was ready to remit several hundred dollars to my brother. At the same +time, I thought that it was proper for me to write a few lines to my +good mother; and accordingly I sat down and made out quite a long +letter, which I enclosed in the same bundle with the money. + +On Saturday evening, the papers arrived half an hour later than usual, +as I had arranged with Bob; and on the wrapper I was delighted to read, +in great, scrawling letters, "_All right: money and letters received._" + +On Sunday, as I was lying in my hammock, and thinking of home, it came +to my mind that my dear mother had probably expected me to pass the day +with her; and then for the first time it flashed across me, that, when I +wrote her on Friday, I entirely forgot that she supposed me all the +while to have been in the little town of Canton, on the Boston and +Providence Railroad. "What on earth," I said to myself, "will she +imagine when she reads my letter? I certainly must have betrayed myself. +I don't remember exactly what it was that I wrote; but there must have +been some things in the letter that will lead the poor old lady to +suppose that I am crazy. Well, perhaps I shall know more about it when +the next bundle comes; and I will try to be patient until then." + +The next morning I awaited the usual arrival with great anxiety; and, as +soon as the package came into my hands, I tore off the outer covering, +and, to my great relief, found a letter in my mother's handwriting, +addressed,-- + + "MASTER JOHN WHOPPER, CANTON, MASS." + + It read as follows:-- + + ROXBURY, March, 1867. + + MY DEAREST JOHN,--I was very much disappointed that you did not + come home to pass the Sabbath. I had a nice dinner all ready for + you; and your little sister cried hard when she found that you were + not to sit down with us. We were all very glad, however, to get + your letter; and I am thankful that you have been so prospered in + your business. I had no idea that you would be able to make so much + money by selling papers in Canton: they must be a great reading + community. I hope, my dear son, that all is made honestly. There + are some things in your letter which have puzzled me a little, and + I do not know that I exactly understand all that you say. You also + speak of visiting the Joss-house once or twice. I never knew any + family of that name: only I happen to remember, that, up in + Manchester, there were quite a large number of people by the name + of Josslyn; and sometimes the boys used to call them, in sport, + "the Josses." It is not a good habit to give nicknames to other + persons, especially where you visit the family. You also speak of + their burning a great deal of colored paper, and a great many + scented sticks before an image. I asked Bob what he thought this + meant: but he jumped right behind the closet-door, and made the + most extraordinary noises with his mouth that I ever heard; and + when he came out again his eyes were full of tears, and he looked + as if he had had a fit. "Bob," said I, "what is the matter?" "I + have had a high-strike,"--he should have said high-sterick,--"I do + have 'em sometimes." "Robert," I said very seriously, "what do you + think your brother means?" + + "Well," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if the Josses had a bust of + Daniel Webster or Henry Clay in their parlor, and perhaps they burn + things round it to keep off the flies." Then he began to laugh + again, and I could not tell whether he was in earnest or not. I am + not very much pleased to hear you say that you go out in the + afternoon to fly kites with a parcel of old mandarins. I think that + you might find some better use for your time; and I am afraid from + the way in which you speak of them, that these old mandarins are + not very respectable characters. Your brother says that kite-flying + means speculating, and that the mandarins are probably brokers. I + trust, my dear boy, that you are not making any of your money in + this way. Who is this Chim-jung-tsee, who is to be your teacher? It + is a very strange name for a Christian to be called by, and I don't + like the sound of it. And what do you mean, when you say you want + to learn the language so that you may be able to talk with the + natives? I never stopped in Canton but once, and that was when the + axle-tree of the engine, or something else, broke down. There were + a good many people from the village came up to the depot then; and + I heard them talk for more than an hour, and I understood every + word they said. I am almost afraid that your application to + business, and selling your papers at such a profit, is turning your + brain. You must not work too hard, and you must be careful about + your diet. I shall try and send you a bundle of doughnuts next + week, when I fry. There is something in your letter about eating + rats and birds'-nests, and other horrible things. I suppose that + you intend that for a joke. I wish that you would tell me where you + pass your evenings, and what kind of books you are reading, and how + many meeting-houses there are in Canton, and where you go to + meeting. Whenever you have to stay there over the Sabbath, I would + like to have you write out a full account of the sermons that you + hear. We all hope that you will come to see us next Saturday + night. Bob says that you are so busy that you will not be able to + leave; and that you have to sit up all night, and then sleep in the + day-time. Bob and Mamie send their best love. I will send a pair of + socks with the doughnuts. Your little sister says, "Tell brother + that I want him to bring me something pretty from Canton." I don't + know but she thinks you are away off in the great city of Canton, + in China. Write as often as you can to + + Your very affectionate mother, + + DEBORAH WHOPPER. + +I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I had read the letter, and +so I did a little of both. I could not bear to think that my mother +should be so deceived, and so bewildered; but it would distress her +sadly if she really knew where I had gone, and how I got there. I had +some doubts, too, whether she would be able to keep the secret long, for +they worm every thing out of her at the Dorcas Society. So I concluded +that I would write her another letter, at the end of the week, which +wouldn't give her any trouble. Week after week passed by without any +interruption of my business; and I devoted three hours every day to the +study of the Chinese language, under the direction of Chim-jung-tsee, a +young Chinaman who spoke pigeon-English very well, and had been highly +recommended by one of the waiters at the hotel. He was a very sleek, +smooth-spoken fellow: the top of his shaved head shone like a billiard +ball, and his tail hung four feet and a half from his shoulders. I +didn't altogether like the expression of his eyes; for although they +were usually turned up at the outside corners, like other Chinese eyes, +sometimes I would catch him with one of them turned down at the corner, +and then he seemed to be looking at me with one eye, and looking out of +the window with the other. His nails were longer than any I had seen in +Canton; and he usually wore stout leather cots on the ends of his +fingers, to protect them from injury. I never knew him to lose his +temper but once; and that was when, just for the fun of the thing, I +managed to snip off an inch or two from one of his nails with my +pen-knife. From that moment, I have reason to believe that he became my +deadly foe. He couldn't have made more of an outcry, had he lost his +arm. + +One day, as I entered my room, I found the young man carefully studying +a copy of "The New-York Times," which, contrary to my custom, I had +thoughtlessly left exposed on the desk. After the hours of study were +over, he asked, in an off-hand kind of way, how far New York was from +Canton. I thought it likely that the fellow knew already, and therefore +I did not hesitate to tell him. He then took up the New York paper +again, and, looking with great care at the date, began to count his +fingers, mumbling something to himself in Chinese which I could not +understand. Nothing more passed between us on the subject; but I felt +from that day that I had a spy upon me. I did not like to discharge him +from my service, because that would only excite him to greater +mischief, and I never thought for a moment of taking him into my +confidence. + +One Friday morning, just as I had finished dressing, there was a loud +knock at the door of my room; and three Chinese officials entered, who, +having first tied my arms behind my back, and fastened a short chain to +my ankles, proceeded to search every nook and corner of the premises. + +The evening before, I had fortunately converted all the money that I had +on hand into a bill of exchange, and this was concealed about my person. +The great object of their search appeared to be newspapers; and, after +rifling my boxes and desk of every thing in this form, I was marched +off into the street, without a word being said by my captors. To all my +remonstrances, the only reply that I got was the holding up before my +face of a piece of yellow paper, with a huge green seal in the corner. +Without being subjected to any form of trial, I was taken at once to +prison. I found myself the occupant of a cell about ten feet square, +with one window secured by an iron grating. The furniture of the cell +consisted of a bamboo chair, a small table, and a low bedstead. I was +glad to find that every thing looked neat and clean. I remained in this +place for several days in utter solitude, except when my meals were +brought to me; and then all that I could get out of my attendant was, +"Me no talkee." I had not the slightest doubt who it was that had +caused me to be imprisoned; and I determined, that, if Chim-jung-tsee +ever came within my reach again, I would cut off every one of his +atrocious finger-nails. As I lay there thinking over all my wonderful +experiences, I could not but feel sad at what I knew must be Bob's +disappointment, when, after waiting hour by hour for my package to +arrive on Saturday morning, nothing appeared. Anticipating that I might +have trouble in China, I had directed, in case my remittance did not +reach him, that he should send no more papers through the hole, so that +no loss would occur on this score; and I knew that he was shrewd enough +to keep my mother and sister from having any undue anxiety. Then I fell +to wondering whether my friends at the coffee-house had all forgotten +me, and how they managed to get along without their papers. I soon found +out that they had _not_ quite forgotten me; although, for obvious +reasons, it would not do for them to interfere with the authorities in +my behalf. + +One afternoon, as I stood looking out from my window upon an open +square, where hundreds of people, young and old, high and low, were +amusing themselves by flying kites, I observed, among the monsters that +filled the air,--dragons, griffins, cormorants, sharks, and numberless +other fantastic shapes,--one kite that arrested my eye and fixed my +attention. It was in the form of an American eagle, with red and white +stripes on the wings, and brilliant stars all over the body. From the +peculiar movements of this kite, I was led to believe that it was an +omen of hope for me, and that whoever held the string intended to do me +a service. In the course of half an hour, the kite was floated directly +across my window, and I saw that there was a paper pinned on the back. +As soon as it came within reach, I thrust my hands through the bars, and +in an instant tore the paper off. Unfolding it, I found in the inside +three steel-spring saws, and read these words: "As soon as you have +sawed away the bars, tie a white rag on the grating. On the first +evening after this, when the wind is favorable, a kite will be flown to +the window. Pull in the string very carefully, and you will come to a +larger cord. Keep pulling until a rope-ladder reaches you. Fasten this +securely to the window, and follow the ladder down over the wall. You +will there find your old pony fastened to a tree: jump on and be off. +Strapped on his back you will see a can of condensed food and a jar of +water, enough to supply you for some days. Success to you!" This paper I +at once tore into small pieces, and, as soon as it was dark, threw the +fragments out of the window. I now went to work with a light heart to +saw away the iron bars, preserving the filings, which I moulded up with +a bit of bread, to fill the gaps that I made with my saws in the +grating, in order to avoid detection in case the room should be +examined. In the course of about a week, I had cut through the iron so +far that I knew it would be easy with one good wrench to tear away the +grating; and then, with a throbbing pulse, in the afternoon I tied a +piece of white cloth on the sash, as I had been directed. That night +there was not a breath of wind, and I knew that I had no hope of rescue +at present. I tried to sleep, but found myself constantly rising up and +listening for the breeze. The next day the kites were flying merrily; +and among them I saw the good old eagle, with a large round white spot +on his back, which I interpreted to mean that my signal had been +discovered. It seemed to me that the sun would never set that evening, +and I was in mortal fear that when it did the wind would also go down. +At last, the shadows of night descended upon the earth, and still the +breeze blew finely. I waited at the window, and watched with all my eyes +until near midnight, when, to my delight, I saw the shadow of a kite +coming between me and the stars. With one quick, strong pull I wrenched +the grating out, and stood with my head projecting from the hole, ready +to catch the kite. As soon as I got hold of it, I found that there were +two strings attached; and I was careful to cut only one, as the other +was probably intended to remove the kite, and pull it to the ground +again. After hauling in the twine and the stronger cords fastened to it, +I found the rope-ladder in my grasp; and in a very short time it was +fastened to the iron bars below the grating that I had removed. At the +same moment, I felt that some one at the other end was hauling the +ladder in tight, and no doubt securing it below. Five minutes later and +I was free! Not a human being was in sight as I stood once more on the +earth: my confederate, whoever he was,--now that every thing was +accomplished that he could do,--probably thinking it was safer for him +to be out of the way. But there stood my beloved pony, who had carried +me so often from the Air-Line Station to Canton; and, before many +seconds had passed, he was making the sparks fly under his feet as we +headed for the old familiar spot in the country. It was not necessary +for me to guide him; dark as it was, the pony knew the way well enough; +and I soon reached the cavity, through which I hoped to visit "my own, +my native land," where people are not arrested without knowing what is +the crime with which they are charged. Removing the jar of water and the +can of food from my pony's back, without stopping to think why I did it, +but following a sort of instinct which afterwards saved me from +perishing, I fastened these articles on my shoulders and around my +waist; then, sobbing, threw my arms around poor pony's neck, and with a +pang bade him good-by. He flew snorting away to his stable, where I have +no doubt he soon found comfort in a quart or two of rice and a peck of +oats. + +And now, strange to say, although I had accomplished the journey through +the earth three times with entire safety, I shrank with dread from the +thought of jumping once more in the dark hole beneath. I suppose the +trials which I had just endured had unstrung my nerves, and that the +solemn hour of the night made the leap seem all the more fearful. And +yet _through I must go_. China was not the place for me to remain in any +longer; and so I stepped down some two or three feet into the cavity, +and stood upon a little projection of rock, feeling that it would +require less effort to drop from this place downward than to leap from +the surface. Seizing the projecting rock with my hands, I then let go, +and down I went. It was a relief to find that I was now fairly under +way; and when, after the lapse of a few hours, I began to see daylight +brightening around me, I thought that all my cares were about to end. +Brighter and brighter it grew, and I had almost reached the edge of the +hole, when, to my horror, I found that the motion of my body was ceasing +altogether. Could it be that I had made a fatal mistake in dropping from +that inner ledge on the other side, instead of jumping boldly from the +surface? It must be so. Oh, what a fool I was! I might have known that +the projectile power would not be sufficient to take me clear through! +What will become of me? For, at this moment, I felt myself beginning to +sink back again into the bowels of the earth. And there through the +long, long hours, I swung backwards and forwards like an enormous +pendulum,--every time that I rose and fell, with a shorter and shorter +range,--until I stopped in equilibrium at the centre of the earth. The +sensation of absolute rest was more terrible than motion. There I was +alive, buried deeper than any other being ever was before. Was there any +possible way in which I could extricate myself? I now made a great +effort to collect my thoughts, and give to this question careful +consideration. At last, a bright idea came into my mind. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT CAUGHT IN THE EARTH, AND THEN GOT OUT AGAIN. + + +The idea that came to me was at first very vague and indefinite; neither +was it at all certain that my plan could be carried out. It had been +suggested by a peculiar sound which fell upon my ear as soon as I became +stationary, and which had continued to reverberate through the darkness +all the while. As I had been obliged, while in China, to be about so +much at night, I had provided myself with one of those compact lanterns, +which can be folded up, and carried in the pocket, with a good supply +of best wax matches. The first thing to be done was to strike a light, +and see what sort of a place I was floating in. The sensation of +floating in equilibrium was delightful and soothing; and yet I felt that +it would be a relief to touch something solid. As soon as my candle +lighted up the cavity, I saw that the walls of my strange abode were +perforated in various places by holes, some of which were large enough +to admit my body. Taking my cap from my head, I found that by waving it +in the air I could readily waft my body in whatever direction I chose; +and, in less than a minute, I found myself comfortably seated in the +largest and most convenient of these cavities. I now felt the need of +food and drink; and, before proceeding to do any thing else, I opened +one of the cans of concentrated meat, and with a glass of water from the +jar which I had so fortunately brought with me, I made quite a nice +meal. With all the burden that weighed upon my mind, I could not help +smiling when I thought that I was the only person that had ever dined in +that particular locality. After dinner, I stretched myself out, and took +a good long sleep. At last I awoke as bright as a lark, and began to +explore the surrounding region. The point that I wished particularly to +determine was this: What is the cause of the low, grinding sound that I +continually hear? and from what locality does it proceed? Upon the +answer to these questions depended all my hopes of escape. Strapping +the jar and cans securely about me, I thought that I would try to +penetrate the orifice which I had entered; but, as soon as I got upon my +feet, the slight muscular effort that I made in walking lifted me again +into the air, and I found myself once more in equilibrium. At first this +discouraged and perplexed me; but observing that I could propel myself +with the greatest ease by just fanning the air, as before, with my cap, +I concluded that this was a very easy as well as rapid mode of +locomotion. As I advanced farther and farther into the cavity, I found +that the grating noise, to which I have alluded, grew louder and more +distinct; and after moving along, perhaps about two miles, I came in +sight of an immense cylinder, the size of which it was impossible for +me to estimate, as I could see only a small section of the surface. +Floating on, I laid myself alongside of the great tube, and, taking my +knife from my pocket, tapped the cylinder several times, and found that +it was composed of some very hard and resonant metal, entirely unlike +any thing that I had ever seen before. It was of a bright vermilion +color, highly polished in certain places, and somewhat rough and +honey-combed in others. From the vibration that came when I struck it +with my knife, I inferred that it must be hollow. I only needed to try +one further experiment, in order to be satisfied that my suspicions and +hopes as to the nature of this cylinder, and the cause of the peculiar +sound that I had heard, and which now reverberated loudly on every +side, were correct. Observing that, at a point not far off, the cylinder +came almost in contact with the wall that surrounded it, I approached +the spot, and stuck two red wafers, one on the cylinder, and the other +directly opposite to it on the wall, with a distance of not more than an +inch between them. I would here observe, in explanation of my happening +to have these wafers about me, that they still continued to be used in +China, and I generally carried half a dozen or more about me in a stiff +envelope. Now came the crisis of my destiny! If the relative position of +the wafers remained for an hour unchanged, there was no hope for poor +John Whopper. With my watch--which, by the way, I had protected against +the disturbance of the magnetic currents by a compensation balance--in +my hand, I gazed earnestly and anxiously upon the two wafers. Fifteen +minutes passed. In this time, the earth had revolved one ninety-sixth +part of its daily course, and the inhabitants on the surface had +travelled two hundred and fifty miles. If my hopes are well founded, it +is hardly time yet for me to perceive any change in the two red spots +upon which my gaze is fixed. A half hour slowly passes. I do believe +that the wafers are not directly opposite to each other! let me wait a +little while longer, that I may be certain. There is no mistake about +it,--the right edge of one wafer just touches the left edge of the +other. Eureka! Hurrah! I am right. I am right. This big cylinder is +_the axis of the earth_, fixed and immovable; and these huge walls are +revolving round it. There's a discovery to make a man immortal! What +fools the old geographers were that used to say,--"the axis is an +_imaginary line_, running through," etc., etc. The name of Whopper will +now be heralded to all coming generations with the names of Bacon and +Newton and La Place and Humboldt, and all the rest of them! Fame, with +her great silver trumpet-- + +"Stop, my boy," I imagine the impatient reader is now saying. "You had +better get out into daylight before you crow so loud; we don't see how +your great discovery is going to help you to do that." I presume not; +but you _will_ see, if you are only patient. + +I now reasoned thus with myself: "If the axis of the earth is +hollow,--about which I have no doubt,--and open at both ends,--inasmuch +as it is winter at the south pole when it is summer at the north, and +_vice versa_,--there must always be a strong current of air passing +through it,--the cold air of one extreme rushing into the warmer region +at the opposite pole. I have, then, only to find some way of introducing +my body into the interior of this axis; and, by taking advantage of the +current, I shall soon be able to see daylight again." + +The next thing, therefore, to be done was to find out whether it would +be possible for me to get inside the cylinder. I had observed, that in +some places the metal of which it was composed, showed the appearance +of being honey-combed; and this gave me some encouragement. I now +crawled, or rather swam, about the surface of this cylindrical mass of +metal, and soon found an orifice large enough for me to thrust in my +hand and arm up to the elbow. True enough, there _was_ a strong draught +in there, so strong that it seemed as if my arm would be wrenched from +the socket. Every doubt and difficulty were now removed, if I could only +find a hole in the cylinder three feet in diameter; and after an hour's +search, I lighted upon just what I wanted,--a good smooth opening, and +somewhat larger than was actually needed to pass my body through. This, +however, was fortunate, because I must have space enough to project +myself with some force from the orifice, or I might strike the side of +the cylinder, and be dashed into fragments. + +Every thing was now ready: nerving my whole system for the terrible +effort and the frightful risk, I sprang with all my might into the axis +of the earth. After what I had experienced when I put my arm into the +cylinder, I expected, of course, as soon as my whole body was thrown in +there, that I should undergo the terrible sensation of being whirled +upward by a tornado. Instead of this, to my astonishment, the moment +that I had cleared the orifice through which I jumped I felt as though I +were floating stationary in the air. Could it be that I was deceived in +regard to the existence of the current? This could hardly be: it was not +possible that I was stationary, for the hole through which I leaped had +vanished in a flash. It then for the first time occurred to me, that +being in the current, and as it were _a part_ of the current, moving in +it and _with_ it without any resistance, it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was advancing or not; and then I remembered how men that +went up in balloons, after they had lost sight of the earth, could not +perceive whether they were in motion or at rest; and how our teacher at +the Roxbury school used to explain the fact that we were not conscious +of the rotation of the globe on which we stood, upon the same principle. +When I thought of all this, I broke into a loud laugh, and for a long +time I could hear the echoes thundering through the cylinder. + +I cannot say how glad I felt that my journey through the axis of the +earth occurred at that period of the year when the current set from the +south to the north. The prospect of safety if I were to be discharged +from the south pole, would be slight indeed; but familiarity with the +writings of various explorers in the Arctic regions gave me the very +natural feeling that I should be in a measure at home in that part of +the world. + +The absence of any sense of motion, with the quietness and darkness that +surrounded me, began to induce a feeling of weariness; and I thought +that I should like to see how it looked where I was; so I lighted my +lantern, which I had extinguished when I leaped into the axis, when the +most dazzling and marvellous sight burst upon my view. I found that I +was not very far from the side of the cylinder, which was +polished--probably by the constant friction of the swift current passing +through it--so that it glistened like a diamond, only it was of one +uniform vermilion hue. Reflected, as in a fiery mirror, I caught an +occasional glimpse of myself, magnified to a gigantic size by the +concave form of the cylinder, and elongated in the most remarkable +manner by the rapidity with which I shot by the surface; and, after +this, I had no further doubts as to whether I was moving on or standing +still. I next amused myself by making all sorts of uproarious sounds, +which were repeated up and down, and back and forth, from the metallic +walls, until I was somewhat frightened at the cries I made; for it +seemed as if fifty wild demons were shouting and yelling around me. +There are some of my readers who will remember the old chemical chimney +in Roxbury, and what strange sounds were heard there when the boys stood +below, laughing and talking. What I now heard recalled most vividly all +those experiences. To soothe my mind a little, I then took a jews-harp +from my pocket and played the "Star-spangled Banner." The effect was +beautiful and almost magical, and I sank at once into a delicious +reverie. + +But, as the time drew near when I supposed that I might expect to emerge +from my present position, I began to feel anxious as to what would +become of me when I came out. I anticipated, of course, that, moving at +such a fearful rate, I must expect to shoot up rather high in the air; +and the question was, where I should probably land. If, as is generally +supposed, it is a clear, open sea at the pole, I shall not _land_ at +all, but come down into the water. In this case, I am inevitably lost: +but still my faith was not shaken; after all that I had endured, it did +not seem likely that I should be left to perish in the sea. I could do +nothing but trust and wait. + +In process of time the light began to steal in upon the darkness, and I +knew that another crisis was approaching,--the most trying and +formidable that I had been called to encounter. And, shortly, out I +went, high up in the air,--higher--higher,--until I thought that I +should never come down again. But, after a time, I felt that I was +descending; and the fear came upon me that I might tumble back once more +into the axis of the earth. If I had reflected a moment, I might have +perceived that this would be impossible; for, as soon as I had sunk from +my elevation down to a point not more than a hundred feet from the end +of the pole, I met the swift current of air rushing out, and was once +more hoisted up in the clouds. This was repeated several times over; and +I found myself in the condition of a cork ball, sustained in the air by +a stream of water from a fountain. It is a little odd, that at this time +there came to my mind a vivid recollection of such a cork ball that I +used to see tossing about in front of the hotel that formerly stood at +the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston. At last it +occurred to me, that if at the time when I had nearly reached the +highest point of my ascent, and therefore must be moving very slowly, I +should fan the air with my cap, as I did before, it might waft me out of +the line of the north pole; and that I might as well come down into the +sea and be drowned, as to keep on bobbing up and down in this way +forever. The experiment was successful; and the next time that I +descended, I came gently, not into the water, but into a soft yielding +drift of snow, which entirely broke the force of my fall. + +I felt sure now that all was right; and, scrambling out of the snow, I +looked about to see where I was. All around, in every direction, there +was an open sea extending to the horizon; and it was evident that I had +lighted upon an iceberg, which had floated northward from a more +southern region. After I had refreshed myself with a little food, I +proceeded to explore the frozen island, of which I had so unexpectedly +become the sole proprietor. + +I am afraid that some of my readers may think that there is a tone of +exaggeration in my story as I proceed to narrate what I found there. +Thus far, it must be allowed by all that I have kept within range of +_possibility_, if not of probability; I have been careful to explain +minutely and scientifically just how every thing came about; and if it +should ever become as familiar a thing to travel _through_ the earth as +it is now to shoot over its surface on railroads, and send messages +instantaneously from one end of the world to the other, this narrative +will not sound so very strange after all. But in telling what I found on +the iceberg, and what happened to me there, I may have to tax somewhat +the credulity of my readers. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. AND LAST. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT ALONG AT THE NORTH POLE. + + +I shall now give the general result of an exploration of the iceberg, +which occupied me for several days. I use the word _day_ in the ordinary +sense, as indicating a period of twenty-four hours; although, during my +stay in the arctic region, the daylight was perpetual. This frozen +island, which was to be for a time my habitation, extended, so far as I +could judge, over an area of about five hundred acres; but there were +certain marks about the surface and cleavages on the sides, which +indicated that it was originally of much greater size. It was also very +evident that it had assumed its form, and been detached from the shore, +at some point on the coast many degrees remote from its present +position, and had then been driven towards the pole by some +extraordinary current into which it had happened to fall. At some former +period, this iceberg must have floated, or been stationary, in a region +where game abounded and birds were plenty; where vessels sailed, and +where vessels were wrecked; and, when it was launched from the shore, it +carried off with it not less than an acre of good, rich loam,--the +effect, probably, of a land-slide in the vicinity. It will, I think, be +seen that it is only upon this general supposition, that we can account +for what I found there. I may here observe, before proceeding further, +that, while on three sides the walls of the berg rose almost +perpendicularly out of the sea, yet on the remaining side there was +quite an easy and gradual slope down to the water; and this may also +serve to explain how some of the things that I found on the island were +thrown or lifted there. + +The food that I had brought with me from Canton was soon exhausted; and +the first great want that I experienced was the means of keeping my soul +in my body. In the deep crevices of the ice, I found places where I +could manage in a measure to shelter my body from the cold while I +slept; but what reasonable prospect had I of finding food in this +forlorn spot? I now began to feel the pangs of hunger; but, instead of +yielding to despair, with a stout heart I determined to search the +region thoroughly, and see if a kind Providence had not made some +provision for my wants. After roaming about for a while, my foot struck +upon a little keg, partially embedded in the ice; and, to my joy, I read +the mark on the top, "Bent's Hard Crackers, Milton, Mass." It took me +hardly a minute to kick it open; and there the crackers lay, as sound +and sweet as when they were first packed. I do not know exactly how many +I ate, but I should say not much over fifteen. The keg was then put in a +safe place, where I should be certain to find it by and by. In the +course of the forenoon, I came upon a frozen bear; and I also found, in +the same vicinity, plenty of old barrel-staves, and broken hoops, and +other pieces of wood, great and small, which I laid in a heap upon the +earth. "Now," said I, "we will have a bit of roast meat for dinner, with +a few toasted crackers for dessert." Before two o'clock, I had a bright +fire burning, and a delicate slice of the bear roasting before it. + +The next thing to be done was to strip the bear of his skin; but this I +found to be a difficult task. It had been a tough job to cut out with my +jack-knife the frozen slice of meat upon which I had just dined; and it +was impossible to strip off the skin without tearing it in pieces. A +bright thought now occurred to me, and I proceeded to kindle a fire all +around the animal; and when the heat had become strong enough just to +loosen the hide from the carcass, I went to work, and, in an hour or +two, had a nice warm robe to wrap myself in at night. At the same time I +extinguished the fire, as I did not care to cook the entire bear all at +once. + +My jar of water gave out the day that I was dropped upon the berg; and +at first I thought that I could quench my thirst by eating small bits of +ice, but I soon found that this only increased the difficulty. I then +remembered to have read in a magazine, that the amount of caloric taken +out of the system in order to melt the ice in one's mouth was so great +as to only increase the feeling of thirst. All anxiety, however, on this +point was soon at an end; for the sun was now hot enough, for an hour +or two at noon, to melt a sufficient quantity of the loose snow in +certain localities to furnish all the water that I needed. + +With my bear-meat and Bent's crackers for food, and my bearskin for a +blanket, I might now be considered for the present as above the reach of +absolute want; and still it is not to be supposed that I was in a very +contented and happy frame of mind. I was very thankful for all the +mercies that I had received; and, when I looked back upon all the +wonderful deliverances that I had experienced, I could not help feeling +confident that all would go well with me hereafter.[1] + +But the great want that I felt was _a home_, or at least +something,--some hut or hovel, or hole in the ground,--to which I might +retire when my labor was over, where I could eat my frugal meals, and +lie down to slumber at night. I longed for a place in which I could feel +that I was _localized_, around which domestic associations might +gradually entwine themselves, and where I might sing in the twilight the +songs of my childhood.[2] + +The fifth day of my sojourn on the iceberg was the great day of +discovery. I determined, that morning, that I would now make a thorough +survey of the whole island. I knew that it would be rough work, and +somewhat dangerous; for, in some places, there were cavities fifty feet +deep, and I should have to climb over some very steep ice, where it was +as smooth as glass. Before starting, I pulled several nails out of the +hoops that lay around, and drove them into the soles of my boots; and I +was fortunate enough to find a good stout stick, into the end of which I +also fastened one of the nails. Filling my pockets with crackers, and +slinging a slice of cooked bear's meat over my shoulder, I started off, +having been careful first to pile up several loose blocks of ice in the +form of a pillar, so that I might be able to find the place again. I +then struck--as it afterwards turned out most fortunately--for that side +of the berg where the surface shelved off gradually to the water. About +eleven o'clock, I found myself standing on quite a lofty peak of ice; +and, looking down, my eyes fell upon a sight that almost took away my +breath. Spread out before me on a level plain, there lay a large black +patch, which looked as though it must be earth; and on the farther side, +just where the berg began to slope towards the sea, I thought that I +saw something that looked like a building! Could it be that the island +was inhabited? Running, sliding, slipping down, as fast as I could go, +in a short time I found that I was not mistaken in supposing that it +was earth: for there lay, stretched out before me, an acre or so of +ground, almost as smooth and level as a garden; and, at the farther +end of the plot, there stood,--not an ordinary house, not a barn, not +an Esquimaux hut, not a country store, not a railroad depot, not a +meeting-house,--but, what do you imagine? I will tell you as soon as I +get there. Rushing like mad across the ground,--oh, how pleasant it was +to feel the soft soil under my cold feet!--I came to what looked like a +dismasted ship, embedded clear up to the gunwale[3] in the ice. There +lay the whole deck of a three-masted vessel, unbroken and undisturbed; +but, as I soon ascertained, there was no hull underneath, for the deck +had evidently been broken off from the lower parts of the ship, and +thrown up the smooth, inclined plane of ice to the spot where I found +it, and then been frozen in there. What a discovery this was! I did not +know how to contain or how to express my delight; and, before beginning +to explore the premises, the very first thing that I did was to rush up +to the bell, that hung near the bows, and ring it with all my might. You +can't tell how strange it sounded, up there in that solitary, silent, +arctic sea, to hear the loud clang of the old bell sounding out over the +waters, as I tugged and tugged away at the rope. It would have done the +hearts of "Hooper & Son, Boston, Mass.,"--whose name I saw printed on +it,--it would have done the whole firm good, to have heard it. After I +had ceased ringing, and slowly tolled the bell for a few minutes, so +that I might make it seem as if I were going to meeting in Roxbury, I +sat down on the capstan to think matters over. Nothing had happened yet +that excited me like this. Jumping through the earth, and then getting +stuck in the centre; being blown through the axis, and lighting on an +iceberg at the north pole, and all that sort of thing,--I looked back +upon rather as a matter of course. But to find myself sitting here on +the deck of a three-master, with the cabins and offices at the stern all +in good order, and the caboose-house in the centre, with the little +funnel sticking out of the top, and a big boat close by it, covered with +canvas, and a huge anchor at the bows, and spare rigging and spare masts +lying all along the sides, and a _real bell_ to ring,--this was a +little too much, even for John Whopper. + +What was I to find in the cabins, and the offices, and the pantries, and +the caboose-house? The caboose-house reminded me that I was getting +hungry, and that it was near dinner-time. I had expected to make my meal +of dry crackers and cold bear-meat; but it occurred to me, that, on such +an occasion as the present, a luxurious repast would be more +appropriate, as well as more agreeable, and that very possibly I might +find in the caboose-house the materials for gratifying my appetite. I +did not as yet feel quite prepared to visit the cabins at the stern, for +I knew that I must become very much excited at what would be found +there, and a good dinner would serve to strengthen my nerves, and set me +up. I went, therefore, at once to the caboose, and slid back the door, +which required considerable effort; and, sure enough, there was every +thing at hand that I expected, and a great deal more. The accident which +lifted the deck from the hull of the ship must have happened about the +middle of the forenoon; for there was the fire all ready to be lighted +in the cooking-stove,--shavings, kindlings, and coal in place; and there +lay the cooking utensils quite convenient. This was not all; the +materials for the dinner had been brought up,--a great deal more than I +could consume in a week. Immediately I took a match from my +pocket,--there was a box of matches hanging on the wall, but I did not +feel sure that they would be in working order,--and lighted the fire. +The next thing that I did was to go and select a lump of clean, clear +ice, to be melted in the kettle, that I might be ready to wash up my +dishes properly after dinner. I tell you that I gave a big shout when I +saw the smoke curling out of the funnel. I now proceeded, very +deliberately, to select from the cans and bottles and jars, that were +piled up in the corner, the various items of which I would make my +dinner. The first thing that I settled upon was a dish of "_Parker's +ox-tail soup_," which I remembered to have eaten some time ago at the +house of a benevolent gentleman in Washington Street, when he gave the +newsboys a lunch. My second course should consist of a potted +partridge, with tomato sauce, desiccated turnips (I didn't know what +_desiccated_ meant, but I took it for granted that it was all right), +and one or two of Lewis's pickles. I would then close with part of a jar +of preserved peaches. I did not need to do much cooking in getting up +this dinner; but I had hot soup, hot tomatoes, and warm turnips, which +got a little smoked, and didn't taste very good,--perhaps, however, that +was because it was desiccated. I enjoyed the dinner tremendously; and +after it was over, and my dishes were all washed and put away, my eye +lighted upon a box, half full of cigars, on the shelf. My first thought +was, "Now I will have a cigar, as the gentlemen do that you see at the +steps of the Tremont House in the afternoon, and that will make it seem +more like home." But, upon second thought, it occurred to me that this +would probably make me so sick for the remainder of the day, that I +should be unable to do any thing, and that I couldn't spare the time. So +I decided not to smoke until I had leisure enough to be ill for a while. + +And now, with a throbbing heart, I turned my steps towards the +cabin-door, and entered the gangway. There were two or three doors on +the sides of the narrow passage, which I did not care to open at +present; and so I passed on to the central door that led into the main +room. I had feared that I might be startled by the sight of dead bodies +or skeletons here; but there was nothing repulsive to be seen, nothing +that looked like disorder or confusion. There stood the centre-table, +with a few books and pamphlets lying on it, and two or three chairs +drawn around, and a large lamp suspended above. There was the grate, +containing a few half-consumed embers; there was the compass, swinging +between the stern-windows. A nice Brussels carpet was under my feet; and +there were three doors on either side of the cabin, opening into the +staterooms. The vessel appeared to have been a first-class merchantman, +fitted to carry half a dozen passengers; and how such a vessel as this +ever found its way into these northern seas was a mystery. I just +glanced for a moment into these rooms, and saw there trunks and valises, +and all the usual articles of the toilet, mirrors, beds, and bedding, +and all other things expected in a respectable apartment. Then I visited +the captain's room and the mate's; the pantry, store-room, etc.; and all +the supplies and utensils seemed to be abundant and of the best quality. +I tried to find the log-book, but that was missing; and from this I +inferred that the captain had made his escape in safety, taking it with +him. This thought gave me pleasure. + +No danger now of my suffering for want of the comforts or luxuries of +life; I could dress elegantly, sleep magnificently, and fare +sumptuously. I selected the captain's room for my private apartment; and +having no luggage to transport, it required but little time for me to +take possession. + +The sun had now sunk as near the horizon as it ever did in that region +during the month of July, and what we called evening at home drew near. +I prepared my cup of tea in the cabin, and spread my supper on the +centre-table; then went out to take a little stroll on the deck. I +closed the door of the caboose-house, and, for the sake of appearances, +fastened it; then went up to the bell, and struck the hour, just to +gratify a sentimental feeling that I had. Then I retired to the cabin +for the night; and in order to make it seem snug and cosey, I dropped +the curtains over the windows, and lighted the hanging lamp. Kindling a +fire in the grate, I sat down at the table and tried to read. But +situated as I was, I found it impossible to fix my mind upon the book; +and so I threw myself down upon the lounge to think over what had +happened, and speculate as to the probabilities of the future. It may +seem strange to some persons; but, with all my comforts about me, I felt +more homesick than I did when I was lying on the ice in my bearskin, or +when I was poking about in the bowels of the earth, trying to see how I +could get out. There was nothing to occupy my body; and that, I suppose, +was one reason why my mind worked as it did. At about ten o'clock, I +went to bed, and, after tossing about uneasily for an hour or two, +managed to fall asleep. + +When I awoke in the morning, it took me some time to remember where I +was. I thought, at first, that I was at home, and could hear the birds +singing by the window; and I believe that I called out "Bob!" once or +twice before I was fairly roused. But soon the real state of the case +came back to me; and, going into the staterooms, I hunted round until I +found a suit of good clean clothes that would fit me, and dressed myself +for the day. The clothes that I had worn were now so dirty and torn that +I was very glad to get rid of them. After breakfasting heartily,--and an +excellent cup of hot coffee I had that morning,--I began to think what I +should do with myself during the day. I had no longer to go tramping +about in search of food; and so I thought that I would take a little +stroll over my farm,--as I called the acre of loam that lay by the side +of my abode,--and see how the crops were looking. I must confess that +the vegetation was not much advanced; and yet I could see, here and +there, little green shoots springing out of the earth, indicating that +the summer sun was beginning to have its effect upon the soil. It then +occurred to me how pleasant it would be to look out upon a greensward in +that icy spot; and remembering to have seen in the store-room a canvas +bag marked "grass-seed," and a rake standing there, I went for them, and +passed the forenoon in agricultural pursuits. In a few hours, I had +quite a patch of ground nicely raked over, and sown for grass. In less +than a fortnight, it had sprouted beautifully, and I began to be quite +proud of my arctic lawn. + +All the time, however, I was wondering how I should find my way back to +the abodes of man, and how soon I might expect to start for home. I had +presumed, that, as the season advanced, I should begin to drift +southward; and I hoped, that, before the winter closed in again, I might +reach those parts of the sea which are frequented by vessels, and so +find rescue. But whether I was moving or not, it was impossible as yet +to tell, as there was no fixed object in sight by which a movement could +be measured. I felt very certain that the iceberg was not grounded, +because there would be, occasionally, a quivering of the whole mass, +which showed that it was floating on the water. It was also growing +warmer and warmer every day, which was a favorable symptom. If I had +known how to use the sextant or quadrant, I could have settled the +matter at once. + +Before long, I was satisfied, from the change in the appearance of the +ocean and of the sun, that I was indeed moving rapidly away from the +north pole; and the fact that I was afloat was settled conclusively by a +very alarming circumstance. I had observed for a day or two, that the +hanging-lamp did not appear to be entirely perpendicular; and, in +walking the deck, I had the sensation that I was not treading on a +perfectly level surface. Searching the mate's room, I found a +spirit-level, and laid it on the floor. There was no doubt of the fact: +the berg was undoubtedly tilting on one side. I then remembered, that, +not unfrequently, these mountains of ice rolled over, and made a +complete somerset. This was now, sooner or later, going to happen. What +could I do? I found that the ice, on the side that was beginning to +incline towards the sea, was much higher than elsewhere, and that this +superior weight was gradually destroying the equilibrium of the berg. I +also observed, that, between this elevation and the more level region, +there was a narrow, deep fissure, extending almost entirely across the +line of the lofty projection of ice. + +A great thought now flashed upon me. I remembered to have seen on the +deck, the day after my arrival, two or three casks, labelled "Dangerous! +Handle very carefully!! Nitro-glycerine!!!" These casks I at once +removed to a safe distance, marking with an upright stick the place +where they were deposited. Nitro-glycerine!--I said to myself. It was +that that blew up the "The European" at Panama. I remember it because I +sold three hundred and nine papers by crying "Great Explosion." A +newsboy knows something. And nitro-glycerine will go off if you hit it +hard enough. + +In the captain's room, there were several large, metallic flasks, made +very broad and flat, as I suppose for the purpose of better stowage in +his room. What they had formerly contained, I could only judge by the +smell; but they were empty now. This, then, was the experiment that I +would try,--filling these flasks with nitro-glycerine, I would lower +them into a crevice in the ice. Then, if I could, I must make a block +of ice fall on them. + +In two or three hours, my preparations were concluded. The flasks were +just large enough to fit snugly in the chasm. Above them, the precipice +hung over a little. Half-hidden by the bulwarks of the ship, I fired +three bullets from the captain's gun into the projecting mass. Nothing +fell. I loaded her again,--fired again, and a great block of ice keeled +over and slid down. As fast did I leap down stairs into the cabin, as if +I should be safe there. As I landed, I felt the great iceberg tremble; +then came a sharp, quick, terrible crash, as if forty thunders had +broken all together right over my head, and the great hill of ice sank +grandly and slowly into the ocean below. For a minute or two, I could +hear the roar of the waters as they opened to receive the huge mass, and +the berg rocked as if in a great storm; then all was still again. I +rushed back to my cabin, laid the spirit-level on the floor, and the +little bubble stopped right in the middle of the tube. The danger was +over. + +Another week passed; and there was no longer any room to doubt that I +_was_ moving, and in the right direction. At the pole, there was never a +breath of wind; but now it blew quite strong. The compass began to show +signs of vitality; and, at midnight, I could see some of the brightest +of the stars. The sun dropped nearer and nearer the horizon every +evening, and it was growing uncomfortably warm at mid-day. As I was now +getting some information from the sun as to the points of the compass, +I set up a vane on the deck, in order to find out, from day to day, the +direction of the wind. This put another idea into my head. Couldn't I do +something to help the old berg along? Why couldn't the spare masts and +sails, that lay along the sides of the deck, be put to some use? The +foremast of the ship was broken off about fifteen feet from the level of +the deck, and I went to work to splice on a jury-mast. It was slow and +pretty hard work. I had to arrange the blocks and tackles in the most +scientific manner, in order to lift the heavy timber to its place; and +it required a great deal of strength to bring the ropes around the fore +and jury-mast, so as to bind them securely together. I then managed to +rig a yard to the mast, and, in the course of another day, had quite a +respectable sail set. The day after, I got up a jib, and then crowned +the whole by hoisting the American flag to the top of the mast. I did +not keep this flying all the time, but reserved it for great occasions. + +Here then, was a novel sight,--a great iceberg _under sail_, and +protected by the stars and stripes. Whether it helped us along or not, I +am unable to say: but it was a satisfaction for me to feel that I had +done what I could; and it gave me pleasure to go off a little distance, +and look at the extraordinary spectacle. I could not help laughing to +think what the old salts would say, when I got down amongst the whalers +and explorers, at the sight of _an iceberg under sail_! + +I have nothing more to tell of my adventures in the arctic seas. About +the middle of September, I had reached the more frequented parts of the +ocean, and every day was on the lookout for some friendly barque, to +liberate me from my dreary solitude. For months I had not heard the +sound of a human voice, and I began to long for the society of my +fellow-men. Every morning I posted myself, with a spy-glass, on the +highest peak of the berg, searching the horizon for a sail. My situation +on the deck was becoming every hour more and more precarious. The +melting of the ice underneath had already caused the stern to incline +very decidedly towards the inclined plane that led down to the ocean; +and I felt that the slightest jar might, at any time, precipitate the +whole concern, myself included, into the sea. I suppose, indeed, that +nothing but the counteracting influence of the sails, which filled in +the opposite direction, had prevented this catastrophe. + +At last, after many a long and weary watch, I descried, in the far-off +distance, a sail; but the vessel moved off towards the horizon, and was +soon lost to sight. It was a bitter disappointment; and still I thought +that wherever _one_ ship was sailing, others would be likely to come in +sight before long. I kept the flag flying now all the time, and hardly +ventured to sleep at all, lest some vessel might pass by unnoticed. On +the twenty-fifth of September, as I woke from a short and broken +slumber, I descried, not more than two miles off, a ship, heading +directly for the berg. As soon as she was near enough for the signal to +be observed, I lowered and hoisted my flag five or six times in quick +succession; and, to my joy, I saw the signal answered. It was all right +now: the only question to be solved was, as to the manner in which I +would get on board the vessel. I anticipated that they would not venture +to bring the ship alongside of the berg, but would probably put out a +long-boat for my rescue. As soon as that came within hailing distance, I +would establish communication with the crew; and, between us all, I did +not doubt but some way would be found for me to escape. In a short +time, as I had foreseen, the ship lay to; and the boat came off, and was +rowed to the foot of the inclined plane. I never saw a more astonished +set of men in my life. They were staring at me and my extraordinary +craft, as if their eyes would start from the sockets; and the coxswain +rose and shouted,-- + +"Ahoy, up there! who are you?" + +"John Whopper," I replied, "eldest son of the Widow Whopper, now +residing in Roxbury, Mass., U. S. of America." + +"Gracious me!" cried one of the men, "I know Widow Whopper." + +"I hope you left her well?" + +"Much as usual," the sailor replied. + +I was very glad to hear it. + +"Where are you from?" shouted the coxswain again; "and where did you +get your rigging?" + +"I will tell you when I get aboard." + +"Come aboard, then." + +"I don't exactly see how to manage it." + +"Come down the plane, and we will catch you." + +It was too steep and slippery for me to do that; but, on the instant, +another bright thought arose. "Pull off a hundred feet or so," I cried, +"and I will be along." + +As soon as I saw that they had rowed to a safe distance, I went to the +mast, and suddenly let the sail go. In an instant, I felt the deck +quiver; and it began to move, very slowly at first, and then with a +tremendous rush, right down the inclined plane. I grasped a rope with +all my might, and steadied myself for the shock that must come when my +craft plunged into the sea. But there was no shock at all; gently as a +ship slides on her cradle, when launched into the water, the old deck +glided off upon the waves, and in five minutes I found myself safely on +board the long-boat. No sooner, however, had I left the strange craft, +than it began to sink slowly into the depths; and the last thing that I +saw was the American flag floating on the bosom of the deep. + +What was said to me when I reached the ship, and what I said, I have not +time to relate; only I didn't tell every thing. + +The vessel proved to be a whaler, bound for New Bedford; where I +arrived in good condition, and took the cars for Roxbury, via the Boston +and Providence Road, _passing through Canton_. + +I found all well at home, and very much relieved by my arrival. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] It will probably occur to the reader, that some one of Johnny's +adult friends has touched up the style a little along here. J. W. says +that this is true. + +[2] John informs the editor that he never wrote a word of the last +lines, and that he thinks it about time for him to take the bellows +again. + +[3] Pronounced _gunnell_: "The uppermost bend which finishes the upper +works of the hull, and from which the upper guns, if the vessel carry +any, are pointed." + + + + + THE END. + + + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | Transcriber's note:-- | + | | + | Italics are represented in this text version by underscores. | + | | + | | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Whopper, by Thomas March Clark + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30463 *** diff --git a/30463-h.zip b/30463-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14a5440 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463-h.zip diff --git a/30463-h/30463-h.htm b/30463-h/30463-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eac60d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463-h/30463-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1665 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of John Whopper The Newsboy, by Thomas March Clark. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30463 ***</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 287px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="287" height="400" alt="" title="cover" /> +<br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 285px;"> +<img src="images/i_002.png" width="285" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">JOHN WHOPPER IN CHINA, By the <i>Air-Line</i> Route.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 325px;"> +<img src="images/i_003.png" width="325" height="400" alt="." title="" /> +<span class="caption">JOHN WHOPPER AT THE NORTH POLE.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> + + +<h1>JOHN WHOPPER<br /></h1> + +<h2>THE NEWSBOY.</h2><br /> + +<h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.</h4><br /><br /> + +<h3>BOSTON:<br /><br /> +ROBERTS BROTHERS.<br /></h3> +<h4>1871.<br /><br /><br /></h4> + + + + + +<h5>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by<br /><br /> + +ROBERTS BROTHERS,<br /><br /> + +In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.<br /></h5> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h5>Stereotyped and Printed by<br /> +<span class="smcap">Alfred Mudge & Son</span>,<br /> +Boston, Mass.<br /></h5> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.</h3> + + +<p>Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I +started as usual very early to distribute my papers. I had a large +bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut +across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica +Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time. I do not care to tell +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, +barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.</p> + +<p>After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had +better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to +clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, +that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to +put my feet. All at once I lost my balance, and felt that I was sliding +down the side of a smooth, steep rock; while underneath, to my horror, I +saw what looked like a circular cave, or well, some five or six feet in +diameter. I tried to grasp the rock with my hands, and ground my heels +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>as hard as I could against the surface, but it was of no use; down I +slipped, faster and faster, until at last I plunged, feet foremost, into +the dark hole below. For a moment I held my breath, expecting to be +dashed to pieces; and oh, how many things I thought of in that short +minute! It seemed as if every thing that I had ever done came back to +me, especially all the <i>bad</i> things; and how I wished then that I had +lived a better life! I thought, too, of my poor mother and my little +brother and sister at home, and how they would wait breakfast for me +that morning; and how they would keep on waiting and waiting, hour after +hour and day after day; and how the neighbors would all turn out and +search for me; and how I should never be found, and nobody would ever +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>know what had become of me. And then I wondered whether Mr. Simpson, +who employed me to distribute the papers, would suppose that I had run +away somewhere, to sell them on my own account; and so I went on +thinking and wondering, until it seemed as if there was no end to the +time. And yet I didn't strike the bottom of the cave, but just went on +falling and falling, faster and faster, in the darkness, and sometimes +just grazing the sides, and still not so as to hurt me much. My great +trouble was to breathe; when it occurred to me to lay the sleeve of my +coat across my mouth: and then I found that I could breathe through the +cloth with tolerable ease. After a while, I recovered my senses; and +though I continued to fall on still faster and faster, I experienced no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>great inconvenience. How long this continued, I cannot tell; it +appeared to be an age; and I must have been falling for several hours, +when I began to feel as though I was not sinking as fast as I had been; +and after a while, it seemed as if I were rising up, rather than +tumbling down. As I was now able to breathe much more freely than I had +done, I began to think calmly about my condition; and then the thought +flashed across my mind, that perhaps I had passed the centre of the +earth, and was gradually rising to the surface on the other side. This +gave me hope; and when I found that I continued to move slower and +slower, I tried to collect my faculties, so that I might know just what +it would be best to do, if I should be so fortunate as to reach the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>other end of the hole into which I had tumbled. At last, looking down, +I saw a little speck of light, like a very faint star; and then, I tell +you, my heart bounded with joy. At this moment it suddenly occurred to +me that it would not do to come out of the hole <i>feet foremost</i>; and, by +a tremendous effort, I managed to turn a complete summersault,—what the +boys always called a <i>somerset</i>,—which, of course, brought me into the +right position. How thankful I felt that I had been taught to practise +gymnastic exercises at the school in Roxbury! In my present attitude I +couldn't see the bright spot any longer: but, before long, I perceived +that it was growing lighter around me; and I was confident that the time +of my release drew near. I had determined exactly what I would do when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +I reached the surface of the earth again; and, accordingly, on the +instant that my head came out of the hole, I grasped the edge with all +my might, and, by another terrible effort, swung myself up into the air, +and leaped upon the ground.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to describe the strange thrill that passed over me when +I thus found myself standing on what I knew must be the eastern side of +the globe. As soon as I had fairly recovered the use of my reason, I +began to speculate as to the region of the country into which I emerged. +If I had come directly through the centre of the earth, I knew, of +course, just where I ought to be; but this hardly seemed possible, +considering how short a time it had required for my journey. It then +occurred to me that I was really<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> unable to form any accurate idea of +the number of hours that had elapsed since I left the soil of +Massachusetts; for, before I had fallen a hundred feet, a whole age +appeared to have passed. I knew that it was about six o'clock in the +morning when I started; and, on looking at my watch, I found that it had +stopped at 6.45, owing, as I afterwards ascertained, to the influence of +magnetic currents upon the hair-spring.</p> + +<p>The country around was in a high state of cultivation, except in the +immediate vicinity of the spot where I stood. This was rough and barren, +and so situated that the small cavity in the earth from which I had just +been released, would be very likely to escape observation. Thinking that +it might be important for me to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> be able hereafter to identify the +locality, I took a careful observation of its general bearings, and +twisted together a few of the twigs that grew near the hole, but in such +a manner as would not be likely to arrest attention.</p> + +<p>Striking off now at random, I soon found myself in a low, marshy region, +covered with a species of grain unlike any thing I had ever seen before, +but which I concluded must be rice; and then the thought came to me, +that very probably I was in China. After walking for an hour or two, I +reached a rising ground, and saw in the distance an immense city on the +water's edge; which from its position, and resemblance to certain +pictures that I had once seen in Boston, I believed to be Canton. +Refreshing myself with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> some fruit that grew by the wayside, I started +off in haste, in order, if possible, to reach the city before nightfall. +Just as the sun was setting, I entered what appeared to be one of the +main streets; when, tired and hungry and footsore, I began to think +seriously what I should do to procure food and lodging. Here I was,—a +poor boy in a strange land, unable to address a word to the people +around me, and with only a few cents and two or three bits of paper +currency in my pocket, that could be of no value in that country. <i>What +was I to do?</i> Just then I came to a large and respectable-looking +building; and over the door there was this sign, in good plain +characters:—</p> + +<center>"<span class="smcap">English and American Coffee-House.</span>"</center><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tears of joy filled my eyes. In an instant, I said to myself, "Your +fortune is made, old fellow! Here you have thirty or forty Boston +newspapers, not twenty-four hours old, strapped around your neck; and I +rather think they will be in some demand in Canton."</p> + +<p>With a light heart I now entered the office of the hotel, and threw down +my bundle, with a good, black-leather covering around the papers, so +that it looked like an ordinary piece of luggage, which gave me the +appearance of a regular traveller; then called for a room, and ordered +supper. It was true that I had very little money in my possession,—not +enough, certainly, to pay my bill at the hotel; but no questions were +asked, and I gave myself little concern as to the future.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> I had a +first-rate appetite, and ate voraciously.</p> + +<p>After supper was over, I took my bundle in my hand, and strolled +leisurely into a pleasant and spacious room, where a number of +gentlemen—English and American—were sitting around in groups, some +chatting together, and others reading the London and New York and Boston +papers. Among them I recognized the face of a merchant whom I had seen +several times in State Street; and slinging the strap over my shoulder +in a careless, every-day sort of tone, just as any newsboy would have +done at home, I went up to him and said, "Have the morning papers, +Mister?—'morning papers?'—'Advertiser,' 'Journal,' 'Post,' 'Herald,' +last edition,—published this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> morning, <i>only five dollars</i>!" Everybody +in the room looked up, for I managed, as newsboys generally do, to speak +loud enough to drown every other sound; but no one uttered a word. It +was evident that they thought I was crazy, or something worse; and so I +just cried out again, "Have the morning paper, sir?" at the same time +thrusting a copy of "The Advertiser" into his hand. He looked like an +"Advertiser" kind of man,—well dressed and highly respectable.</p> + +<p>Involuntarily his eye glanced at the date,—"Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1867"; +and then, in an excited, quivering tone, he said, "Let me look at your +other papers." There was a long table in the centre of the room, which I +approached; and, slowly unfolding my bundle, I laid a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> of the papers +wide open in front of the gentlemen, who crowded around in the highest +state of excitement. Still there was dead silence; when one of them +suddenly burst out with the exclamation, "Good heavens! Here is a notice +of the arrival of 'The Golconda' at New York, with a full account of the +cargo, and every thing else correct. Why, this must be genuine!"</p> + +<p>One after another followed with a cry of surprise at some news which +they had found; until, in a few minutes, every gentleman in the room was +absorbed in reading the papers, appearing to have entirely forgotten all +about me, and not caring to ask how it was that I had brought them to +China in less than twenty-four hours. After I had stood there whistling +carelessly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> as long as I thought worth while, I spoke up in a loud +voice, and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to be enjoying the news +pretty well. I hope you don't mean to forget to pay for the +papers,—<i>only five dollars a copy</i>!"</p> + +<p>At this speech every one of them looked at me with a strange expression, +as if they hardly knew whether I was a real human boy or something else; +when the Boston gentleman said, "How on earth did you get these papers +here?" To which I answered very carelessly, "I didn't get them here <i>on</i> +earth."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you what I mean, and answer your questions, after you have +paid me <i>five dollars each; and cheap at that, considering</i>."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed it is, for me at least," said one of the gentlemen. "What I have +learned from this paper is worth to me, in a business way, thousands of +dollars"; and with that he came forward and put a hundred into my hand, +in the good, solid form of gold-pieces. His example had its effect upon +the others. Instead of the two hundred which I had hoped to receive for +my forty newspapers, I was actually in possession of not less +than—well, I don't care to tell exactly how much, on account of the +income-tax.</p> + +<p>"Come, now," said the gentlemen, almost in one breath, "tell us how +these papers came to China."</p> + +<p>"I brought them myself."</p> + +<p>"When did you leave America?"</p> + +<p>"The morning when these papers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> printed: but how long ago that was, +I really don't know, as my watch stopped while I was on my voyage; only +I thought it was just as well to call out, as I always used to do at +home, 'Morning paper!' although, perhaps, for all I can tell, they may +be two or perhaps three days old; anyhow, I guess you find them a good +deal fresher than the rest you have got on hand."</p> + +<p>Having delivered myself of this somewhat protracted speech, I began +moving towards the door with the air of one who had said every thing +that could reasonably be expected, in reply to the curious inquiries of +my liberal patrons, when the Boston merchant motioned for me to stop, +saying with some severity, "Did you not promise that you would inform +the com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>pany how these papers came from America to China in such an +incredibly short period of time, whenever you should have received your +pay for the same?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and I just told you that I brought them over—not exactly +<i>over</i>—but—in short, I brought them here."</p> + +<p>"You say, 'not exactly <i>over</i>'; do you mean by that phrase to be +understood to say that you did not come over land?"</p> + +<p>"Your honor has hit my meaning precisely."</p> + +<p>"You don't pretend to say that you came by water?"</p> + +<p>"Far from it, sir."</p> + +<p>"How then, <i>under the heavens</i>, did you come?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't come under the heavens at all."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't believe," said the irritated gentleman, turning to his +companions, "that the fellow came at all; he must be lying."</p> + +<p>All the answer that he received was the rustling of forty newspapers, +bearing the imprint, "February 16, 1867, Boston." There was no getting +over this.</p> + +<p>After a pause of several minutes, during which a bright idea entered my +mind, I came forward into the circle, and said, "Well, gentlemen, I want +to see if I can make a good bargain with you; and when that is settled, +I will tell you how I came over—I mean, I will tell you how I got here; +that is, I will tell you <i>the route</i> that I took. If I can arrange for +the delivery in Canton of the New York and Boston daily papers, within +thirty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>-six hours of the time when they are issued in those cities, will +you all promise to give me your generous patronage?"</p> + +<p>"Of course we will," they cried all together.</p> + +<p>"Very well; then I pledge myself to appear again in this place one week +from this day, ready to carry out my part of the bargain. And now, in +bidding you good-night, allow me to inform you that I came from America +to China by the <i>air-line</i>."</p> + +<p>With this I retired at once to my room, and was soon sleeping soundly.</p> + +<p>I knew that I should be watched so closely the next day as to make it +impossible for me to escape without detection; and accordingly I got up +an hour or two before daylight; and, having laid upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> the table in my +room an amount of money which I supposed would be considered a fair +compensation for my supper and lodging, I tied the sheets together, and +lowered myself down into the then silent and deserted street. It was not +long before I found myself once more in the open country; and looking +carefully for the twisted twigs that I had tied together the afternoon +before, I soon discovered the chasm through which I had made my +remarkable trip to the eastern hemisphere. Taking the precaution to tie +a handkerchief over my mouth in order that I might economize my breath, +I summoned all my courage, and leaped into the hole. My experiences were +precisely the same as they had been in the previous journey; and in +course of a few hours, I found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> myself standing once more in the +familiar outskirts of Roxbury, and gazing tenderly upon the solemn dome +of Boston State House. As fast as my legs would take me, I rushed to my +poor mother's humble abode, longing to relieve the bitter agony to which +I knew she and my brother and sister must have been subjected during my +absence. It is not worth while for me to describe at length the scene +that ensued when I stood once more in the family circle, with my +mother's arms around my neck, and the young folks bellowing with joy. To +the frantic inquiries that were showered upon me as to what had +happened,—where I had been,—had I had any thing to eat? I coolly +replied that I had not had much to eat; and, if they would give me a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +good, substantial supper, I would endeavor to relieve their minds.</p> + +<p>"Supper, indeed!" cried my good mother; "why, it's just after sunrise! +You haven't lost your senses, I hope."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon; but it was about sunrise hours and hours ago, when +I—when I"—and here I faltered, not caring just then to let the whole +family into my secret.</p> + +<p>"When you what?" said my mother, looking very anxious.</p> + +<p>"Why, when I left Canton," I now answered, very promptly.</p> + +<p>"You don't say that you have been to Canton?" she replied, but without +any such show of astonishment as might have been expected.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have, mother. It occurred to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> me that I could sell my papers to +better advantage there than I could about here; and, indeed, I did, as +you may see." Whereupon I laid in her good old hand such a sum of money +as she had not clasped for many a day.</p> + +<p>"Did you get all this money by selling papers in Canton?"</p> + +<p>"I did, and a great deal more; which I am going to deposit by and by in +the Savings Bank to your credit."</p> + +<p>"There must be an awful demand for papers in Canton."</p> + +<p>"There is, mother; and they pay such high prices there, that I am +thinking of setting up a news establishment in the place."</p> + +<p>"And did you <i>walk</i> all the way to Canton day before yesterday, my +boy?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then it was day before yesterday morning when I left home? I thought it +was longer ago than that."</p> + +<p>"Longer ago! Oh, dear, dear! you are not out of your head, my son?"</p> + +<p>"My good mother, I am as sound as you are. Only you know that sometimes, +when we are very much occupied, the time passes quickly; and I have been +quite busy since I left you."</p> + +<p>"And did you say that you walked to Canton?"</p> + +<p>"No, mother, I didn't walk a step."</p> + +<p>"Then you took the Providence cars?"</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, it was a kind of a providence car."</p> + +<p>[John's statement at once relieved the old lady's mind; but those of our +readers who are not intimately acquainted with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> the geography of +Massachusetts, may be somewhat puzzled at this. For the information of +foreigners and uneducated people in general, we must mention that there +is a thriving village on the Boston and Providence railroad, about ten +miles from Roxbury, which rejoices in the name of Canton.</p> + +<p>It may here be observed, that the young man's mind had got into a kind +of chronological muddle, and the days and nights were mixed up together +in the most miscellaneous manner. We, who are competent to solve any +ordinary problem, furnish our young readers with this explanation. John +left our American soil on Tuesday morning, at or about six o'clock. He +is twelve hours—there or thereabouts—passing through the earth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> This +brings him to China also in the morning, as every thing is topsy-turvy +on the other side of the globe. His walk to Canton fills up most of the +day,—<i>Tuesday night here</i>. He sleeps in Canton one night. <i>Wednesday +here</i>; leaves Canton, <i>via</i> Air-Line, the next morning,—<i>Wednesday +night here</i>; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent +from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling <i>via</i> +Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country +in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British +and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and +consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his +singular tale of adventure, we remarked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> that he seemed to have had a +very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole +forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which +repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was +filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body. +We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet +again, and we let him speak for himself.]</p> + +<p>"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,—a bright +fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,—I told him in strict confidence +the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for +the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation.</p> + +<p>"I am now going," said I, "to Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> Simpson's office, and shall pay him +handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with +him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in +advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock +precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up +and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the +centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,—always being +very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet +above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise +just four feet <i>above</i> the surface on the other side, and I shall be +able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on +the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> which ought +to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time +that you will be obliged to give to the work.</p> + +<p>"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On +every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an +hour; and between six and half-past six o'clock, be on the careful +lookout for a bundle <i>which I shall send to you</i> from the other side. +This will contain my remittance for the week, which I wish you to +deposit to mother's credit in three places, the names of which I give +you on paper. She can then draw from time to time such sums as she may +need.</p> + +<p>"I shall remain at home for a few days and arrange to be in China next +Monday<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> evening. On Tuesday morning you will forward the bundle of +papers."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tell mother and sister all about this?" said Bob.</p> + +<p>"No: it would only worry them. I shall merely say that I have a great +opening for making money, and shall be obliged to be absent from home +for several months."</p> + +<p>"I think," said Bob, chuckling,—Bob labored under the delusion that he +was a wag,—"that it <i>is</i> a great opening, or rather, I might say, a +<i>lengthy</i> opening."</p> + +<p>Every thing was duly arranged according to the programme; and, on the +following Monday, I bade adieu for a while to the sweet light of day,—I +don't mean that I said exactly these words as I stood on the edge of the +hole—but that is the way in which it would be expressed in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +book,—and jumped boldly into the dark abyss. In due time I arrived +safely in China, and took lodgings in a small country inn about two +miles off, as I did not care to show myself at the Canton Coffee-House +until I had the papers in my possession.</p> + +<p>It was with a somewhat anxious heart that I went to my Air-Line Station, +as I had taken a fancy to call it, on Tuesday evening.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN GOT INTO TROUBLE IN CHINA.</h3> + + +<p>It was Tuesday evening in good old Massachusetts, but not far from the +break of day in China. In order that I might be more sure to catch the +bundle of papers on its arrival, I had woven a net-work with my strong +twine, and securely fastened it to a stout wooden hoop. This I then +attached to a pole about six feet in length, and stood ready to swing +the net under the package as soon as it came within reach. The hour at +which I had calculated that the bundle ought to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> come in sight, provided +Bob had been prompt to the time that I had prescribed, had now passed, +and I began to feel excited and uneasy. "What if Bob had forgotten to +hold the package high enough from the surface when he dropped it, and so +the momentum had not proved sufficient to drive it <i>clear through</i> the +hole? What if it had struck against the sides of the cavity, and so the +friction had stopped it on the way? What if the velocity with which it +must have fallen during the first few thousand miles had torn the +package in pieces, and the papers had been left floating about in the +centre of the earth? What if Bob had been taken ill?"—just at this +moment my fears and speculations were arrested by the sight of a small +white object, looking like a flake of snow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> away down the hole, +hundreds of feet away, as it seemed to me. My heart almost ceased to +beat; the white object was coming nearer and nearer, and looking larger +and larger every second. But it is moving slower and slower all the +time, as if it was nearly tired out! Perhaps it will not come <i>quite</i> +within reach after all? What an awful disappointment that would be! No! +it doesn't quite stop—<i>up</i> it comes—ten feet more and I will have it; +five feet more—hurra! underneath goes the stout net, and the precious +bundle is clasped safely in my arms.</p> + +<p>I was so exhausted by anxiety and excitement, that I had to sit down for +a while, that I might recover my strength. I really do not think that I +was half so much overcome when I first came out of the hole myself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>And now for the city, to keep my appointment with the gentlemen at the +Coffee-House. I had hired a pony to carry me to Canton, and had fastened +it to a tree near by; and very soon I was galloping off like lightning. +About ten o'clock, I reached the hotel; and, after stopping for a glass +of water at the office to clear my throat, I entered the room where I +knew my patrons would be assembled, and threw my bundle down upon the +table.</p> + +<p>Every man there started to his feet; but such was their surprise at my +appearance,—for not a soul amongst them ever dreamed that I would keep +my appointment,—that for one or two minutes, as before, not a word was +spoken. While they all stood around staring at me as if I had just +dropped from the clouds, I pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>ceeded very leisurely to untie the +strings of the package; when, with a simultaneous movement, my eager +customers rushed towards the table, reaching out their hands frantically +for the papers.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said I, in a clear, collected voice, "before proceeding to +distribute the mail, allow me to offer a few brief remarks." I had +written out this speech, and committed it to memory. "It is very natural +that you should have great curiosity to know by what means I have +managed to redeem the pledge that I gave you a short time ago. In the +presence of gentlemen so enlightened as you are, I hardly need to say +that the speedy communication which I have been enabled to make with the +Western world is effected by no supernatural agency, but by a wonderful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +discovery in the realms of nature, the precise character of which I do +not at present consider it expedient to disclose. Let it suffice, that I +am able to furnish you, at reasonable rates, with the latest +intelligence from the United States of America; and I wish it to be +distinctly understood, that if I ever have reason to suspect that my +movements are watched, or that any efforts are made to detect my secret, +from that time my contract with you is at an end. I also desire to +stipulate that no statement of my transactions with you shall be allowed +to find its way into the public prints, either in China or America. Let +the whole matter remain a profound secret between us; your own interest +will be consulted by this as well as mine. If, indeed, it should so +happen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> that you should ever see any remarkable and novel movement in +the heavens, of course I cannot hinder you from forming your own +impressions, and making your own deductions from the phenomena.</p> + +<p>"And now, gentlemen, every morning between ten and eleven o'clock, I +propose to be here with the papers; <i>price one dollar per copy, cash on +delivery</i>."</p> + +<p>The bundle, containing one hundred papers, was immediately disposed of; +some gentlemen taking two or three, and others half a dozen.</p> + +<p>The tongues of my patrons were now unloosed, and they all acceded +unhesitatingly to the terms which I had proposed. An elderly Englishman, +with a very white waistcoat, and a very large watch-chain, came up to +me, and, patting my shoulder,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> said, "Why, my son, you have done better +than you promised; you have given us the newspapers in much less than +thirty-six hours after their issue at home."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I replied; "I intended to get them here in about <i>sixteen</i> +hours; but I thought it more prudent to say thirty-six, +because—because"—I hardly knew what reason to give, without betraying +myself—"because, sir, I wasn't certain how the magnetic currents might +operate."</p> + +<p>"Ah-hah-ah, I begin to see. Magnetic currents in the heavens, in the +atmosphere."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I answered promptly, "in the <i>atmosphere</i>."</p> + +<p>This was true enough; but I could not say in the <i>heavens</i>, without +telling an untruth; and this I always regarded as a great sin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you think," continued my English friend, "that, when you bring +the American papers over, you could just stop on the way, and get a copy +or two of 'The London Times'?"</p> + +<p>"I do not go for the papers myself."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that they come entirely by themselves?" he +replied, looking more perplexed and astounded than I can describe.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," I said, breaking into a hearty laugh. "I have a partner +on the other side, who will forward them to me every morning."</p> + +<p>"Then they do come of themselves, after they are once started?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," I said, feeling a little embarrassed, and very much afraid +that I might commit myself, "after the proper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> impulse and direction are +given, they do come of themselves."</p> + +<p>"But how, in the name of all that is marvellous, after the package gets +into the right magnetic current, does it manage to alight in this +vicinity?"</p> + +<p>"That is easily explained by the laws of gravity."</p> + +<p>The attention of all present was arrested by this conversation, and I +began to feel that I was getting upon dangerous ground.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, taking hold of the handle of the door, +"from answering any more questions at this time. My mind is getting a +little confused; and, what is more, I am very hungry." Upon which I +retired to the dining-room.</p> + +<p>Every thing went on successfully during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the remainder of the week; all +the packages arrived safely and in good order, and on Friday evening I +was ready to remit several hundred dollars to my brother. At the same +time, I thought that it was proper for me to write a few lines to my +good mother; and accordingly I sat down and made out quite a long +letter, which I enclosed in the same bundle with the money.</p> + +<p>On Saturday evening, the papers arrived half an hour later than usual, +as I had arranged with Bob; and on the wrapper I was delighted to read, +in great, scrawling letters, "<i>All right: money and letters received.</i>"</p> + +<p>On Sunday, as I was lying in my hammock, and thinking of home, it came +to my mind that my dear mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> had probably expected me to pass the day +with her; and then for the first time it flashed across me, that, when I +wrote her on Friday, I entirely forgot that she supposed me all the +while to have been in the little town of Canton, on the Boston and +Providence Railroad. "What on earth," I said to myself, "will she +imagine when she reads my letter? I certainly must have betrayed myself. +I don't remember exactly what it was that I wrote; but there must have +been some things in the letter that will lead the poor old lady to +suppose that I am crazy. Well, perhaps I shall know more about it when +the next bundle comes; and I will try to be patient until then."</p> + +<p>The next morning I awaited the usual arrival with great anxiety; and, as +soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> as the package came into my hands, I tore off the outer covering, +and, to my great relief, found a letter in my mother's handwriting, +addressed,—<br /><br /></p> + +<center><span class="smcap">"Master John Whopper,</span></center> + +<p style="margin-left: 65%;"><span class="smcap">Canton, Mass."</span><br /><br /></p> + + +<p style="margin-left: 5%;">It read as follows:—</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 65%;"><span class="smcap">Roxbury</span>, March, 1867.</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">My dearest John</span>,—I was very much disappointed that you did not +come home to pass the Sabbath. I had a nice dinner all ready for +you; and your little sister cried hard when she found that you were +not to sit down with us. We were all very glad, however, to get +your letter; and I am thankful that you have been so prospered in +your business. I had no idea that you would be able to make so much +money by selling papers in Canton: they must be a great reading +community. I hope, my dear son, that all is made honestly. There +are some things in your letter which have puzzled me a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> little, and +I do not know that I exactly understand all that you say. You also +speak of visiting the Joss-house once or twice. I never knew any +family of that name: only I happen to remember, that, up in +Manchester, there were quite a large number of people by the name +of Josslyn; and sometimes the boys used to call them, in sport, +"the Josses." It is not a good habit to give nicknames to other +persons, especially where you visit the family. You also speak of +their burning a great deal of colored paper, and a great many +scented sticks before an image. I asked Bob what he thought this +meant: but he jumped right behind the closet-door, and made the +most extraordinary noises with his mouth that I ever heard; and +when he came out again his eyes were full of tears, and he looked +as if he had had a fit. "Bob," said I, "what is the matter?" "I +have had a high-strike,"—he should have said high-sterick,—"I do +have 'em sometimes." "Robert," I said very seriously, "what do you +think your brother means?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if the Josses had a bust of +Daniel Webster or Henry Clay in their parlor, and perhaps they burn +things round it to keep off the flies." Then he began to laugh +again, and I could not tell whether he was in earnest or not. I am +not very much pleased to hear you say that you go out in the +afternoon to fly kites with a parcel of old mandarins. I think that +you might find some better use for your time; and I am afraid from +the way in which you speak of them, that these old mandarins are +not very respectable characters. Your brother says that kite-flying +means speculating, and that the mandarins are probably brokers. I +trust, my dear boy, that you are not making any of your money in +this way. Who is this Chim-jung-tsee, who is to be your teacher? It +is a very strange name for a Christian to be called by, and I don't +like the sound of it. And what do you mean, when you say you want +to learn the language so that you may be able to talk with the +natives?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> I never stopped in Canton but once, and that was when the +axle-tree of the engine, or something else, broke down. There were +a good many people from the village came up to the depot then; and +I heard them talk for more than an hour, and I understood every +word they said. I am almost afraid that your application to +business, and selling your papers at such a profit, is turning your +brain. You must not work too hard, and you must be careful about +your diet. I shall try and send you a bundle of doughnuts next +week, when I fry. There is something in your letter about eating +rats and birds'-nests, and other horrible things. I suppose that +you intend that for a joke. I wish that you would tell me where you +pass your evenings, and what kind of books you are reading, and how +many meeting-houses there are in Canton, and where you go to +meeting. Whenever you have to stay there over the Sabbath, I would +like to have you write out a full account of the sermons that you +hear. We all hope that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> you will come to see us next Saturday +night. Bob says that you are so busy that you will not be able to +leave; and that you have to sit up all night, and then sleep in the +day-time. Bob and Mamie send their best love. I will send a pair of +socks with the doughnuts. Your little sister says, "Tell brother +that I want him to bring me something pretty from Canton." I don't +know but she thinks you are away off in the great city of Canton, +in China. Write as often as you can to</p></blockquote> + +<p style="margin-left: 45%;">Your very affectionate mother,</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 65%;"><span class="smcap">Deborah Whopper</span>.<br /><br /></p> + + + +<p>I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I had read the letter, and +so I did a little of both. I could not bear to think that my mother +should be so deceived, and so bewildered; but it would distress her +sadly if she really knew where I had gone, and how I got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> there. I had +some doubts, too, whether she would be able to keep the secret long, for +they worm every thing out of her at the Dorcas Society. So I concluded +that I would write her another letter, at the end of the week, which +wouldn't give her any trouble. Week after week passed by without any +interruption of my business; and I devoted three hours every day to the +study of the Chinese language, under the direction of Chim-jung-tsee, a +young Chinaman who spoke pigeon-English very well, and had been highly +recommended by one of the waiters at the hotel. He was a very sleek, +smooth-spoken fellow: the top of his shaved head shone like a billiard +ball, and his tail hung four feet and a half from his shoulders. I +didn't altogether like the expression of his eyes;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> for although they +were usually turned up at the outside corners, like other Chinese eyes, +sometimes I would catch him with one of them turned down at the corner, +and then he seemed to be looking at me with one eye, and looking out of +the window with the other. His nails were longer than any I had seen in +Canton; and he usually wore stout leather cots on the ends of his +fingers, to protect them from injury. I never knew him to lose his +temper but once; and that was when, just for the fun of the thing, I +managed to snip off an inch or two from one of his nails with my +pen-knife. From that moment, I have reason to believe that he became my +deadly foe. He couldn't have made more of an outcry, had he lost his +arm.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day, as I entered my room, I found the young man carefully studying +a copy of "The New-York Times," which, contrary to my custom, I had +thoughtlessly left exposed on the desk. After the hours of study were +over, he asked, in an off-hand kind of way, how far New York was from +Canton. I thought it likely that the fellow knew already, and therefore +I did not hesitate to tell him. He then took up the New York paper +again, and, looking with great care at the date, began to count his +fingers, mumbling something to himself in Chinese which I could not +understand. Nothing more passed between us on the subject; but I felt +from that day that I had a spy upon me. I did not like to discharge him +from my service, be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>cause that would only excite him to greater +mischief, and I never thought for a moment of taking him into my +confidence.</p> + +<p>One Friday morning, just as I had finished dressing, there was a loud +knock at the door of my room; and three Chinese officials entered, who, +having first tied my arms behind my back, and fastened a short chain to +my ankles, proceeded to search every nook and corner of the premises.</p> + +<p>The evening before, I had fortunately converted all the money that I had +on hand into a bill of exchange, and this was concealed about my person. +The great object of their search appeared to be newspapers; and, after +rifling my boxes and desk of every thing in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> form, I was marched +off into the street, without a word being said by my captors. To all my +remonstrances, the only reply that I got was the holding up before my +face of a piece of yellow paper, with a huge green seal in the corner. +Without being subjected to any form of trial, I was taken at once to +prison. I found myself the occupant of a cell about ten feet square, +with one window secured by an iron grating. The furniture of the cell +consisted of a bamboo chair, a small table, and a low bedstead. I was +glad to find that every thing looked neat and clean. I remained in this +place for several days in utter solitude, except when my meals were +brought to me; and then all that I could get out of my attendant was, +"Me no talkee." I had not the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> slightest doubt who it was that had +caused me to be imprisoned; and I determined, that, if Chim-jung-tsee +ever came within my reach again, I would cut off every one of his +atrocious finger-nails. As I lay there thinking over all my wonderful +experiences, I could not but feel sad at what I knew must be Bob's +disappointment, when, after waiting hour by hour for my package to +arrive on Saturday morning, nothing appeared. Anticipating that I might +have trouble in China, I had directed, in case my remittance did not +reach him, that he should send no more papers through the hole, so that +no loss would occur on this score; and I knew that he was shrewd enough +to keep my mother and sister from having any undue anxiety. Then I fell +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> wondering whether my friends at the coffee-house had all forgotten +me, and how they managed to get along without their papers. I soon found +out that they had <i>not</i> quite forgotten me; although, for obvious +reasons, it would not do for them to interfere with the authorities in +my behalf.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, as I stood looking out from my window upon an open +square, where hundreds of people, young and old, high and low, were +amusing themselves by flying kites, I observed, among the monsters that +filled the air,—dragons, griffins, cormorants, sharks, and numberless +other fantastic shapes,—one kite that arrested my eye and fixed my +attention. It was in the form of an American eagle, with red and white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +stripes on the wings, and brilliant stars all over the body. From the +peculiar movements of this kite, I was led to believe that it was an +omen of hope for me, and that whoever held the string intended to do me +a service. In the course of half an hour, the kite was floated directly +across my window, and I saw that there was a paper pinned on the back. +As soon as it came within reach, I thrust my hands through the bars, and +in an instant tore the paper off. Unfolding it, I found in the inside +three steel-spring saws, and read these words: "As soon as you have +sawed away the bars, tie a white rag on the grating. On the first +evening after this, when the wind is favorable, a kite will be flown to +the window. Pull in the string very carefully, and you will come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> to a +larger cord. Keep pulling until a rope-ladder reaches you. Fasten this +securely to the window, and follow the ladder down over the wall. You +will there find your old pony fastened to a tree: jump on and be off. +Strapped on his back you will see a can of condensed food and a jar of +water, enough to supply you for some days. Success to you!" This paper I +at once tore into small pieces, and, as soon as it was dark, threw the +fragments out of the window. I now went to work with a light heart to +saw away the iron bars, preserving the filings, which I moulded up with +a bit of bread, to fill the gaps that I made with my saws in the +grating, in order to avoid detection in case the room should be +examined. In the course of about a week, I had cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> through the iron so +far that I knew it would be easy with one good wrench to tear away the +grating; and then, with a throbbing pulse, in the afternoon I tied a +piece of white cloth on the sash, as I had been directed. That night +there was not a breath of wind, and I knew that I had no hope of rescue +at present. I tried to sleep, but found myself constantly rising up and +listening for the breeze. The next day the kites were flying merrily; +and among them I saw the good old eagle, with a large round white spot +on his back, which I interpreted to mean that my signal had been +discovered. It seemed to me that the sun would never set that evening, +and I was in mortal fear that when it did the wind would also go down. +At last, the shadows of night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> descended upon the earth, and still the +breeze blew finely. I waited at the window, and watched with all my eyes +until near midnight, when, to my delight, I saw the shadow of a kite +coming between me and the stars. With one quick, strong pull I wrenched +the grating out, and stood with my head projecting from the hole, ready +to catch the kite. As soon as I got hold of it, I found that there were +two strings attached; and I was careful to cut only one, as the other +was probably intended to remove the kite, and pull it to the ground +again. After hauling in the twine and the stronger cords fastened to it, +I found the rope-ladder in my grasp; and in a very short time it was +fastened to the iron bars below the grating that I had removed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> At the +same moment, I felt that some one at the other end was hauling the +ladder in tight, and no doubt securing it below. Five minutes later and +I was free! Not a human being was in sight as I stood once more on the +earth: my confederate, whoever he was,—now that every thing was +accomplished that he could do,—probably thinking it was safer for him +to be out of the way. But there stood my beloved pony, who had carried +me so often from the Air-Line Station to Canton; and, before many +seconds had passed, he was making the sparks fly under his feet as we +headed for the old familiar spot in the country. It was not necessary +for me to guide him; dark as it was, the pony knew the way well enough; +and I soon reached the cavity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> through which I hoped to visit "my own, +my native land," where people are not arrested without knowing what is +the crime with which they are charged. Removing the jar of water and the +can of food from my pony's back, without stopping to think why I did it, +but following a sort of instinct which afterwards saved me from +perishing, I fastened these articles on my shoulders and around my +waist; then, sobbing, threw my arms around poor pony's neck, and with a +pang bade him good-by. He flew snorting away to his stable, where I have +no doubt he soon found comfort in a quart or two of rice and a peck of +oats.</p> + +<p>And now, strange to say, although I had accomplished the journey through +the earth three times with entire safety, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> shrank with dread from the +thought of jumping once more in the dark hole beneath. I suppose the +trials which I had just endured had unstrung my nerves, and that the +solemn hour of the night made the leap seem all the more fearful. And +yet <i>through I must go</i>. China was not the place for me to remain in any +longer; and so I stepped down some two or three feet into the cavity, +and stood upon a little projection of rock, feeling that it would +require less effort to drop from this place downward than to leap from +the surface. Seizing the projecting rock with my hands, I then let go, +and down I went. It was a relief to find that I was now fairly under +way; and when, after the lapse of a few hours, I began to see daylight +brightening around me, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> thought that all my cares were about to end. +Brighter and brighter it grew, and I had almost reached the edge of the +hole, when, to my horror, I found that the motion of my body was ceasing +altogether. Could it be that I had made a fatal mistake in dropping from +that inner ledge on the other side, instead of jumping boldly from the +surface? It must be so. Oh, what a fool I was! I might have known that +the projectile power would not be sufficient to take me clear through! +What will become of me? For, at this moment, I felt myself beginning to +sink back again into the bowels of the earth. And there through the +long, long hours, I swung backwards and forwards like an enormous +pendulum,—every time that I rose and fell, with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> shorter and shorter +range,—until I stopped in equilibrium at the centre of the earth. The +sensation of absolute rest was more terrible than motion. There I was +alive, buried deeper than any other being ever was before. Was there any +possible way in which I could extricate myself? I now made a great +effort to collect my thoughts, and give to this question careful +consideration. At last, a bright idea came into my mind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT CAUGHT IN THE EARTH, AND THEN GOT OUT AGAIN.</h3> + + +<p>The idea that came to me was at first very vague and indefinite; neither +was it at all certain that my plan could be carried out. It had been +suggested by a peculiar sound which fell upon my ear as soon as I became +stationary, and which had continued to reverberate through the darkness +all the while. As I had been obliged, while in China, to be about so +much at night, I had provided myself with one of those compact lanterns, +which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> can be folded up, and carried in the pocket, with a good supply +of best wax matches. The first thing to be done was to strike a light, +and see what sort of a place I was floating in. The sensation of +floating in equilibrium was delightful and soothing; and yet I felt that +it would be a relief to touch something solid. As soon as my candle +lighted up the cavity, I saw that the walls of my strange abode were +perforated in various places by holes, some of which were large enough +to admit my body. Taking my cap from my head, I found that by waving it +in the air I could readily waft my body in whatever direction I chose; +and, in less than a minute, I found myself comfortably seated in the +largest and most convenient of these cavities. I now felt the need of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +food and drink; and, before proceeding to do any thing else, I opened +one of the cans of concentrated meat, and with a glass of water from the +jar which I had so fortunately brought with me, I made quite a nice +meal. With all the burden that weighed upon my mind, I could not help +smiling when I thought that I was the only person that had ever dined in +that particular locality. After dinner, I stretched myself out, and took +a good long sleep. At last I awoke as bright as a lark, and began to +explore the surrounding region. The point that I wished particularly to +determine was this: What is the cause of the low, grinding sound that I +continually hear? and from what locality does it proceed? Upon the +answer to these questions depended all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> my hopes of escape. Strapping +the jar and cans securely about me, I thought that I would try to +penetrate the orifice which I had entered; but, as soon as I got upon my +feet, the slight muscular effort that I made in walking lifted me again +into the air, and I found myself once more in equilibrium. At first this +discouraged and perplexed me; but observing that I could propel myself +with the greatest ease by just fanning the air, as before, with my cap, +I concluded that this was a very easy as well as rapid mode of +locomotion. As I advanced farther and farther into the cavity, I found +that the grating noise, to which I have alluded, grew louder and more +distinct; and after moving along, perhaps about two miles, I came in +sight of an immense cylinder, the size of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> it was impossible for +me to estimate, as I could see only a small section of the surface. +Floating on, I laid myself alongside of the great tube, and, taking my +knife from my pocket, tapped the cylinder several times, and found that +it was composed of some very hard and resonant metal, entirely unlike +any thing that I had ever seen before. It was of a bright vermilion +color, highly polished in certain places, and somewhat rough and +honey-combed in others. From the vibration that came when I struck it +with my knife, I inferred that it must be hollow. I only needed to try +one further experiment, in order to be satisfied that my suspicions and +hopes as to the nature of this cylinder, and the cause of the peculiar +sound that I had heard, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> which now reverberated loudly on every +side, were correct. Observing that, at a point not far off, the cylinder +came almost in contact with the wall that surrounded it, I approached +the spot, and stuck two red wafers, one on the cylinder, and the other +directly opposite to it on the wall, with a distance of not more than an +inch between them. I would here observe, in explanation of my happening +to have these wafers about me, that they still continued to be used in +China, and I generally carried half a dozen or more about me in a stiff +envelope. Now came the crisis of my destiny! If the relative position of +the wafers remained for an hour unchanged, there was no hope for poor +John Whopper. With my watch—which, by the way, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> had protected against +the disturbance of the magnetic currents by a compensation balance—in +my hand, I gazed earnestly and anxiously upon the two wafers. Fifteen +minutes passed. In this time, the earth had revolved one ninety-sixth +part of its daily course, and the inhabitants on the surface had +travelled two hundred and fifty miles. If my hopes are well founded, it +is hardly time yet for me to perceive any change in the two red spots +upon which my gaze is fixed. A half hour slowly passes. I do believe +that the wafers are not directly opposite to each other! let me wait a +little while longer, that I may be certain. There is no mistake about +it,—the right edge of one wafer just touches the left edge of the +other. Eureka! Hurrah! I am right.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> I am right. This big cylinder is +<i>the axis of the earth</i>, fixed and immovable; and these huge walls are +revolving round it. There's a discovery to make a man immortal! What +fools the old geographers were that used to say,—"the axis is an +<i>imaginary line</i>, running through," etc., etc. The name of Whopper will +now be heralded to all coming generations with the names of Bacon and +Newton and La Place and Humboldt, and all the rest of them! Fame, with +her great silver trumpet—</p> + +<p>"Stop, my boy," I imagine the impatient reader is now saying. "You had +better get out into daylight before you crow so loud; we don't see how +your great discovery is going to help you to do that." I presume not; +but you <i>will</i> see, if you are only patient.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>I now reasoned thus with myself: "If the axis of the earth is +hollow,—about which I have no doubt,—and open at both ends,—inasmuch +as it is winter at the south pole when it is summer at the north, and +<i>vice versa</i>,—there must always be a strong current of air passing +through it,—the cold air of one extreme rushing into the warmer region +at the opposite pole. I have, then, only to find some way of introducing +my body into the interior of this axis; and, by taking advantage of the +current, I shall soon be able to see daylight again."</p> + +<p>The next thing, therefore, to be done was to find out whether it would +be possible for me to get inside the cylinder. I had observed, that in +some places the metal of which it was composed, showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> the appearance +of being honey-combed; and this gave me some encouragement. I now +crawled, or rather swam, about the surface of this cylindrical mass of +metal, and soon found an orifice large enough for me to thrust in my +hand and arm up to the elbow. True enough, there <i>was</i> a strong draught +in there, so strong that it seemed as if my arm would be wrenched from +the socket. Every doubt and difficulty were now removed, if I could only +find a hole in the cylinder three feet in diameter; and after an hour's +search, I lighted upon just what I wanted,—a good smooth opening, and +somewhat larger than was actually needed to pass my body through. This, +however, was fortunate, because I must have space enough to project +myself with some force from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> orifice, or I might strike the side of +the cylinder, and be dashed into fragments.</p> + +<p>Every thing was now ready: nerving my whole system for the terrible +effort and the frightful risk, I sprang with all my might into the axis +of the earth. After what I had experienced when I put my arm into the +cylinder, I expected, of course, as soon as my whole body was thrown in +there, that I should undergo the terrible sensation of being whirled +upward by a tornado. Instead of this, to my astonishment, the moment +that I had cleared the orifice through which I jumped I felt as though I +were floating stationary in the air. Could it be that I was deceived in +regard to the existence of the current? This could hardly be: it was not +possible that I was stationary, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> the hole through which I leaped had +vanished in a flash. It then for the first time occurred to me, that +being in the current, and as it were <i>a part</i> of the current, moving in +it and <i>with</i> it without any resistance, it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was advancing or not; and then I remembered how men that +went up in balloons, after they had lost sight of the earth, could not +perceive whether they were in motion or at rest; and how our teacher at +the Roxbury school used to explain the fact that we were not conscious +of the rotation of the globe on which we stood, upon the same principle. +When I thought of all this, I broke into a loud laugh, and for a long +time I could hear the echoes thundering through the cylinder.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>I cannot say how glad I felt that my journey through the axis of the +earth occurred at that period of the year when the current set from the +south to the north. The prospect of safety if I were to be discharged +from the south pole, would be slight indeed; but familiarity with the +writings of various explorers in the Arctic regions gave me the very +natural feeling that I should be in a measure at home in that part of +the world.</p> + +<p>The absence of any sense of motion, with the quietness and darkness that +surrounded me, began to induce a feeling of weariness; and I thought +that I should like to see how it looked where I was; so I lighted my +lantern, which I had extinguished when I leaped into the axis, when the +most dazzling and marvellous sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> burst upon my view. I found that I +was not very far from the side of the cylinder, which was +polished—probably by the constant friction of the swift current passing +through it—so that it glistened like a diamond, only it was of one +uniform vermilion hue. Reflected, as in a fiery mirror, I caught an +occasional glimpse of myself, magnified to a gigantic size by the +concave form of the cylinder, and elongated in the most remarkable +manner by the rapidity with which I shot by the surface; and, after +this, I had no further doubts as to whether I was moving on or standing +still. I next amused myself by making all sorts of uproarious sounds, +which were repeated up and down, and back and forth, from the metallic +walls, until I was somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> frightened at the cries I made; for it +seemed as if fifty wild demons were shouting and yelling around me. +There are some of my readers who will remember the old chemical chimney +in Roxbury, and what strange sounds were heard there when the boys stood +below, laughing and talking. What I now heard recalled most vividly all +those experiences. To soothe my mind a little, I then took a jews-harp +from my pocket and played the "Star-spangled Banner." The effect was +beautiful and almost magical, and I sank at once into a delicious +reverie.</p> + +<p>But, as the time drew near when I supposed that I might expect to emerge +from my present position, I began to feel anxious as to what would +become of me when I came out. I anticipated, of course,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> that, moving at +such a fearful rate, I must expect to shoot up rather high in the air; +and the question was, where I should probably land. If, as is generally +supposed, it is a clear, open sea at the pole, I shall not <i>land</i> at +all, but come down into the water. In this case, I am inevitably lost: +but still my faith was not shaken; after all that I had endured, it did +not seem likely that I should be left to perish in the sea. I could do +nothing but trust and wait.</p> + +<p>In process of time the light began to steal in upon the darkness, and I +knew that another crisis was approaching,—the most trying and +formidable that I had been called to encounter. And, shortly, out I +went, high up in the air,—higher—higher,—until I thought that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +should never come down again. But, after a time, I felt that I was +descending; and the fear came upon me that I might tumble back once more +into the axis of the earth. If I had reflected a moment, I might have +perceived that this would be impossible; for, as soon as I had sunk from +my elevation down to a point not more than a hundred feet from the end +of the pole, I met the swift current of air rushing out, and was once +more hoisted up in the clouds. This was repeated several times over; and +I found myself in the condition of a cork ball, sustained in the air by +a stream of water from a fountain. It is a little odd, that at this time +there came to my mind a vivid recollection of such a cork ball that I +used to see tossing about in front of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> hotel that formerly stood at +the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston. At last it +occurred to me, that if at the time when I had nearly reached the +highest point of my ascent, and therefore must be moving very slowly, I +should fan the air with my cap, as I did before, it might waft me out of +the line of the north pole; and that I might as well come down into the +sea and be drowned, as to keep on bobbing up and down in this way +forever. The experiment was successful; and the next time that I +descended, I came gently, not into the water, but into a soft yielding +drift of snow, which entirely broke the force of my fall.</p> + +<p>I felt sure now that all was right; and, scrambling out of the snow, I +looked about to see where I was. All around,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> in every direction, there +was an open sea extending to the horizon; and it was evident that I had +lighted upon an iceberg, which had floated northward from a more +southern region. After I had refreshed myself with a little food, I +proceeded to explore the frozen island, of which I had so unexpectedly +become the sole proprietor.</p> + +<p>I am afraid that some of my readers may think that there is a tone of +exaggeration in my story as I proceed to narrate what I found there. +Thus far, it must be allowed by all that I have kept within range of +<i>possibility</i>, if not of probability; I have been careful to explain +minutely and scientifically just how every thing came about; and if it +should ever become as familiar a thing to travel <i>through</i> the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> earth as +it is now to shoot over its surface on railroads, and send messages +instantaneously from one end of the world to the other, this narrative +will not sound so very strange after all. But in telling what I found on +the iceberg, and what happened to me there, I may have to tax somewhat +the credulity of my readers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV. AND LAST.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT ALONG AT THE NORTH POLE.</h3> + + +<p>I shall now give the general result of an exploration of the iceberg, +which occupied me for several days. I use the word <i>day</i> in the ordinary +sense, as indicating a period of twenty-four hours; although, during my +stay in the arctic region, the daylight was perpetual. This frozen +island, which was to be for a time my habitation, extended, so far as I +could judge, over an area of about five hundred acres; but there were +certain marks about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> the surface and cleavages on the sides, which +indicated that it was originally of much greater size. It was also very +evident that it had assumed its form, and been detached from the shore, +at some point on the coast many degrees remote from its present +position, and had then been driven towards the pole by some +extraordinary current into which it had happened to fall. At some former +period, this iceberg must have floated, or been stationary, in a region +where game abounded and birds were plenty; where vessels sailed, and +where vessels were wrecked; and, when it was launched from the shore, it +carried off with it not less than an acre of good, rich loam,—the +effect, probably, of a land-slide in the vicinity. It will, I think, be +seen that it is only upon this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> general supposition, that we can account +for what I found there. I may here observe, before proceeding further, +that, while on three sides the walls of the berg rose almost +perpendicularly out of the sea, yet on the remaining side there was +quite an easy and gradual slope down to the water; and this may also +serve to explain how some of the things that I found on the island were +thrown or lifted there.</p> + +<p>The food that I had brought with me from Canton was soon exhausted; and +the first great want that I experienced was the means of keeping my soul +in my body. In the deep crevices of the ice, I found places where I +could manage in a measure to shelter my body from the cold while I +slept; but what reasonable pros<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>pect had I of finding food in this +forlorn spot? I now began to feel the pangs of hunger; but, instead of +yielding to despair, with a stout heart I determined to search the +region thoroughly, and see if a kind Providence had not made some +provision for my wants. After roaming about for a while, my foot struck +upon a little keg, partially embedded in the ice; and, to my joy, I read +the mark on the top, "Bent's Hard Crackers, Milton, Mass." It took me +hardly a minute to kick it open; and there the crackers lay, as sound +and sweet as when they were first packed. I do not know exactly how many +I ate, but I should say not much over fifteen. The keg was then put in a +safe place, where I should be certain to find it by and by. In the +course of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> forenoon, I came upon a frozen bear; and I also found, in +the same vicinity, plenty of old barrel-staves, and broken hoops, and +other pieces of wood, great and small, which I laid in a heap upon the +earth. "Now," said I, "we will have a bit of roast meat for dinner, with +a few toasted crackers for dessert." Before two o'clock, I had a bright +fire burning, and a delicate slice of the bear roasting before it.</p> + +<p>The next thing to be done was to strip the bear of his skin; but this I +found to be a difficult task. It had been a tough job to cut out with my +jack-knife the frozen slice of meat upon which I had just dined; and it +was impossible to strip off the skin without tearing it in pieces. A +bright thought now occurred to me, and I proceeded to kindle a fire all +around the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> animal; and when the heat had become strong enough just to +loosen the hide from the carcass, I went to work, and, in an hour or +two, had a nice warm robe to wrap myself in at night. At the same time I +extinguished the fire, as I did not care to cook the entire bear all at +once.</p> + +<p>My jar of water gave out the day that I was dropped upon the berg; and +at first I thought that I could quench my thirst by eating small bits of +ice, but I soon found that this only increased the difficulty. I then +remembered to have read in a magazine, that the amount of caloric taken +out of the system in order to melt the ice in one's mouth was so great +as to only increase the feeling of thirst. All anxiety, however, on this +point was soon at an end; for the sun was now hot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> enough, for an hour +or two at noon, to melt a sufficient quantity of the loose snow in +certain localities to furnish all the water that I needed.</p> + +<p>With my bear-meat and Bent's crackers for food, and my bearskin for a +blanket, I might now be considered for the present as above the reach of +absolute want; and still it is not to be supposed that I was in a very +contented and happy frame of mind. I was very thankful for all the +mercies that I had received; and, when I looked back upon all the +wonderful deliverances that I had experienced, I could not help feeling +confident that all would go well with me hereafter.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the great want that I felt was <i>a home</i>, or at least +something,—some hut or hovel, or hole in the ground,—to which I might +retire when my labor was over, where I could eat my frugal meals, and +lie down to slumber at night. I longed for a place in which I could feel +that I was <i>localized</i>, around which domestic associations might +gradually entwine themselves, and where I might sing in the twilight the +songs of my childhood.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>The fifth day of my sojourn on the iceberg was the great day of +discovery. I determined, that morning, that I would now make a thorough +survey of the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> island. I knew that it would be rough work, and +somewhat dangerous; for, in some places, there were cavities fifty feet +deep, and I should have to climb over some very steep ice, where it was +as smooth as glass. Before starting, I pulled several nails out of the +hoops that lay around, and drove them into the soles of my boots; and I +was fortunate enough to find a good stout stick, into the end of which I +also fastened one of the nails. Filling my pockets with crackers, and +slinging a slice of cooked bear's meat over my shoulder, I started off, +having been careful first to pile up several loose blocks of ice in the +form of a pillar, so that I might be able to find the place again. I +then struck—as it afterwards turned out most fortunately—for that side +of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> berg where the surface shelved off gradually to the water. About +eleven o'clock, I found myself standing on quite a lofty peak of ice; +and, looking down, my eyes fell upon a sight that almost took away my +breath. Spread out before me on a level plain, there lay a large black +patch, which looked as though it must be earth; and on the farther side, +just where the berg began to slope towards the sea, I thought that I saw +something that looked like a building! Could it be that the island was +inhabited? Running, sliding, slipping down, as fast as I could go, in a +short time I found that I was not mistaken in supposing that it was +earth: for there lay, stretched out before me, an acre or so of ground, +almost as smooth and level as a garden; and, at the farther<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> end of the +plot, there stood,—not an ordinary house, not a barn, not an Esquimaux +hut, not a country store, not a railroad depot, not a +meeting-house,—but, what do you imagine? I will tell you as soon as I +get there. Rushing like mad across the ground,—oh, how pleasant it was +to feel the soft soil under my cold feet!—I came to what looked like a +dismasted ship, embedded clear up to the gunwale<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> in the ice. There +lay the whole deck of a three-masted vessel, unbroken and undisturbed; +but, as I soon ascertained, there was no hull underneath, for the deck +had evidently been broken off from the lower parts of the ship, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +thrown up the smooth, inclined plane of ice to the spot where I found +it, and then been frozen in there. What a discovery this was! I did not +know how to contain or how to express my delight; and, before beginning +to explore the premises, the very first thing that I did was to rush up +to the bell, that hung near the bows, and ring it with all my might. You +can't tell how strange it sounded, up there in that solitary, silent, +arctic sea, to hear the loud clang of the old bell sounding out over the +waters, as I tugged and tugged away at the rope. It would have done the +hearts of "Hooper & Son, Boston, Mass.,"—whose name I saw printed on +it,—it would have done the whole firm good, to have heard it. After I +had ceased ringing, and slowly tolled the bell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> for a few minutes, so +that I might make it seem as if I were going to meeting in Roxbury, I +sat down on the capstan to think matters over. Nothing had happened yet +that excited me like this. Jumping through the earth, and then getting +stuck in the centre; being blown through the axis, and lighting on an +iceberg at the north pole, and all that sort of thing,—I looked back +upon rather as a matter of course. But to find myself sitting here on +the deck of a three-master, with the cabins and offices at the stern all +in good order, and the caboose-house in the centre, with the little +funnel sticking out of the top, and a big boat close by it, covered with +canvas, and a huge anchor at the bows, and spare rigging and spare masts +lying all along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> the sides, and a <i>real bell</i> to ring,—this was a +little too much, even for John Whopper.</p> + +<p>What was I to find in the cabins, and the offices, and the pantries, and +the caboose-house? The caboose-house reminded me that I was getting +hungry, and that it was near dinner-time. I had expected to make my meal +of dry crackers and cold bear-meat; but it occurred to me, that, on such +an occasion as the present, a luxurious repast would be more +appropriate, as well as more agreeable, and that very possibly I might +find in the caboose-house the materials for gratifying my appetite. I +did not as yet feel quite prepared to visit the cabins at the stern, for +I knew that I must become very much excited at what would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> found +there, and a good dinner would serve to strengthen my nerves, and set me +up. I went, therefore, at once to the caboose, and slid back the door, +which required considerable effort; and, sure enough, there was every +thing at hand that I expected, and a great deal more. The accident which +lifted the deck from the hull of the ship must have happened about the +middle of the forenoon; for there was the fire all ready to be lighted +in the cooking-stove,—shavings, kindlings, and coal in place; and there +lay the cooking utensils quite convenient. This was not all; the +materials for the dinner had been brought up,—a great deal more than I +could consume in a week. Immediately I took a match from my +pocket,—there was a box of matches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> hanging on the wall, but I did not +feel sure that they would be in working order,—and lighted the fire. +The next thing that I did was to go and select a lump of clean, clear +ice, to be melted in the kettle, that I might be ready to wash up my +dishes properly after dinner. I tell you that I gave a big shout when I +saw the smoke curling out of the funnel. I now proceeded, very +deliberately, to select from the cans and bottles and jars, that were +piled up in the corner, the various items of which I would make my +dinner. The first thing that I settled upon was a dish of "<i>Parker's +ox-tail soup</i>," which I remembered to have eaten some time ago at the +house of a benevolent gentleman in Washington Street, when he gave the +newsboys a lunch. My<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> second course should consist of a potted +partridge, with tomato sauce, desiccated turnips (I didn't know what +<i>desiccated</i> meant, but I took it for granted that it was all right), +and one or two of Lewis's pickles. I would then close with part of a jar +of preserved peaches. I did not need to do much cooking in getting up +this dinner; but I had hot soup, hot tomatoes, and warm turnips, which +got a little smoked, and didn't taste very good,—perhaps, however, that +was because it was desiccated. I enjoyed the dinner tremendously; and +after it was over, and my dishes were all washed and put away, my eye +lighted upon a box, half full of cigars, on the shelf. My first thought +was, "Now I will have a cigar, as the gentlemen do that you see at the +steps of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> the Tremont House in the afternoon, and that will make it seem +more like home." But, upon second thought, it occurred to me that this +would probably make me so sick for the remainder of the day, that I +should be unable to do any thing, and that I couldn't spare the time. So +I decided not to smoke until I had leisure enough to be ill for a while.</p> + +<p>And now, with a throbbing heart, I turned my steps towards the +cabin-door, and entered the gangway. There were two or three doors on +the sides of the narrow passage, which I did not care to open at +present; and so I passed on to the central door that led into the main +room. I had feared that I might be startled by the sight of dead bodies +or skeletons here; but there was nothing repulsive to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> be seen, nothing +that looked like disorder or confusion. There stood the centre-table, +with a few books and pamphlets lying on it, and two or three chairs +drawn around, and a large lamp suspended above. There was the grate, +containing a few half-consumed embers; there was the compass, swinging +between the stern-windows. A nice Brussels carpet was under my feet; and +there were three doors on either side of the cabin, opening into the +staterooms. The vessel appeared to have been a first-class merchantman, +fitted to carry half a dozen passengers; and how such a vessel as this +ever found its way into these northern seas was a mystery. I just +glanced for a moment into these rooms, and saw there trunks and valises, +and all the usual arti<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>cles of the toilet, mirrors, beds, and bedding, +and all other things expected in a respectable apartment. Then I visited +the captain's room and the mate's; the pantry, store-room, etc.; and all +the supplies and utensils seemed to be abundant and of the best quality. +I tried to find the log-book, but that was missing; and from this I +inferred that the captain had made his escape in safety, taking it with +him. This thought gave me pleasure.</p> + +<p>No danger now of my suffering for want of the comforts or luxuries of +life; I could dress elegantly, sleep magnificently, and fare +sumptuously. I selected the captain's room for my private apartment; and +having no luggage to transport, it required but little time for me to +take possession.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sun had now sunk as near the horizon as it ever did in that region +during the month of July, and what we called evening at home drew near. +I prepared my cup of tea in the cabin, and spread my supper on the +centre-table; then went out to take a little stroll on the deck. I +closed the door of the caboose-house, and, for the sake of appearances, +fastened it; then went up to the bell, and struck the hour, just to +gratify a sentimental feeling that I had. Then I retired to the cabin +for the night; and in order to make it seem snug and cosey, I dropped +the curtains over the windows, and lighted the hanging lamp. Kindling a +fire in the grate, I sat down at the table and tried to read. But +situated as I was, I found it impossible to fix my mind upon the book;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +and so I threw myself down upon the lounge to think over what had +happened, and speculate as to the probabilities of the future. It may +seem strange to some persons; but, with all my comforts about me, I felt +more homesick than I did when I was lying on the ice in my bearskin, or +when I was poking about in the bowels of the earth, trying to see how I +could get out. There was nothing to occupy my body; and that, I suppose, +was one reason why my mind worked as it did. At about ten o'clock, I +went to bed, and, after tossing about uneasily for an hour or two, +managed to fall asleep.</p> + +<p>When I awoke in the morning, it took me some time to remember where I +was. I thought, at first, that I was at home,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> and could hear the birds +singing by the window; and I believe that I called out "Bob!" once or +twice before I was fairly roused. But soon the real state of the case +came back to me; and, going into the staterooms, I hunted round until I +found a suit of good clean clothes that would fit me, and dressed myself +for the day. The clothes that I had worn were now so dirty and torn that +I was very glad to get rid of them. After breakfasting heartily,—and an +excellent cup of hot coffee I had that morning,—I began to think what I +should do with myself during the day. I had no longer to go tramping +about in search of food; and so I thought that I would take a little +stroll over my farm,—as I called the acre of loam that lay by the side +of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> abode,—and see how the crops were looking. I must confess that +the vegetation was not much advanced; and yet I could see, here and +there, little green shoots springing out of the earth, indicating that +the summer sun was beginning to have its effect upon the soil. It then +occurred to me how pleasant it would be to look out upon a greensward in +that icy spot; and remembering to have seen in the store-room a canvas +bag marked "grass-seed," and a rake standing there, I went for them, and +passed the forenoon in agricultural pursuits. In a few hours, I had +quite a patch of ground nicely raked over, and sown for grass. In less +than a fortnight, it had sprouted beautifully, and I began to be quite +proud of my arctic lawn.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>All the time, however, I was wondering how I should find my way back to +the abodes of man, and how soon I might expect to start for home. I had +presumed, that, as the season advanced, I should begin to drift +southward; and I hoped, that, before the winter closed in again, I might +reach those parts of the sea which are frequented by vessels, and so +find rescue. But whether I was moving or not, it was impossible as yet +to tell, as there was no fixed object in sight by which a movement could +be measured. I felt very certain that the iceberg was not grounded, +because there would be, occasionally, a quivering of the whole mass, +which showed that it was floating on the water. It was also growing +warmer and warmer every day, which was a favorable symp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>tom. If I had +known how to use the sextant or quadrant, I could have settled the +matter at once.</p> + +<p>Before long, I was satisfied, from the change in the appearance of the +ocean and of the sun, that I was indeed moving rapidly away from the +north pole; and the fact that I was afloat was settled conclusively by a +very alarming circumstance. I had observed for a day or two, that the +hanging-lamp did not appear to be entirely perpendicular; and, in +walking the deck, I had the sensation that I was not treading on a +perfectly level surface. Searching the mate's room, I found a +spirit-level, and laid it on the floor. There was no doubt of the fact: +the berg was undoubtedly tilting on one side. I then remembered, that, +not unfrequently,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> these mountains of ice rolled over, and made a +complete somerset. This was now, sooner or later, going to happen. What +could I do? I found that the ice, on the side that was beginning to +incline towards the sea, was much higher than elsewhere, and that this +superior weight was gradually destroying the equilibrium of the berg. I +also observed, that, between this elevation and the more level region, +there was a narrow, deep fissure, extending almost entirely across the +line of the lofty projection of ice.</p> + +<p>A great thought now flashed upon me. I remembered to have seen on the +deck, the day after my arrival, two or three casks, labelled "Dangerous! +Handle very carefully!! Nitro-glycerine!!!" These casks I at once +removed to a safe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> distance, marking with an upright stick the place +where they were deposited. Nitro-glycerine!—I said to myself. It was +that that blew up the "The European" at Panama. I remember it because I +sold three hundred and nine papers by crying "Great Explosion." A +newsboy knows something. And nitro-glycerine will go off if you hit it +hard enough.</p> + +<p>In the captain's room, there were several large, metallic flasks, made +very broad and flat, as I suppose for the purpose of better stowage in +his room. What they had formerly contained, I could only judge by the +smell; but they were empty now. This, then, was the experiment that I +would try,—filling these flasks with nitro-glycerine, I would lower +them into a crevice in the ice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> Then, if I could, I must make a block +of ice fall on them.</p> + +<p>In two or three hours, my preparations were concluded. The flasks were +just large enough to fit snugly in the chasm. Above them, the precipice +hung over a little. Half-hidden by the bulwarks of the ship, I fired +three bullets from the captain's gun into the projecting mass. Nothing +fell. I loaded her again,—fired again, and a great block of ice keeled +over and slid down. As fast did I leap down stairs into the cabin, as if +I should be safe there. As I landed, I felt the great iceberg tremble; +then came a sharp, quick, terrible crash, as if forty thunders had +broken all together right over my head, and the great hill of ice sank +grandly and slowly into the ocean below. For a min<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>ute or two, I could +hear the roar of the waters as they opened to receive the huge mass, and +the berg rocked as if in a great storm; then all was still again. I +rushed back to my cabin, laid the spirit-level on the floor, and the +little bubble stopped right in the middle of the tube. The danger was +over.</p> + +<p>Another week passed; and there was no longer any room to doubt that I +<i>was</i> moving, and in the right direction. At the pole, there was never a +breath of wind; but now it blew quite strong. The compass began to show +signs of vitality; and, at midnight, I could see some of the brightest +of the stars. The sun dropped nearer and nearer the horizon every +evening, and it was growing uncomfortably warm at mid-day. As I was now +getting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> some information from the sun as to the points of the compass, +I set up a vane on the deck, in order to find out, from day to day, the +direction of the wind. This put another idea into my head. Couldn't I do +something to help the old berg along? Why couldn't the spare masts and +sails, that lay along the sides of the deck, be put to some use? The +foremast of the ship was broken off about fifteen feet from the level of +the deck, and I went to work to splice on a jury-mast. It was slow and +pretty hard work. I had to arrange the blocks and tackles in the most +scientific manner, in order to lift the heavy timber to its place; and +it required a great deal of strength to bring the ropes around the fore +and jury-mast, so as to bind them securely together. I then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> managed to +rig a yard to the mast, and, in the course of another day, had quite a +respectable sail set. The day after, I got up a jib, and then crowned +the whole by hoisting the American flag to the top of the mast. I did +not keep this flying all the time, but reserved it for great occasions.</p> + +<p>Here then, was a novel sight,—a great iceberg <i>under sail</i>, and +protected by the stars and stripes. Whether it helped us along or not, I +am unable to say: but it was a satisfaction for me to feel that I had +done what I could; and it gave me pleasure to go off a little distance, +and look at the extraordinary spectacle. I could not help laughing to +think what the old salts would say, when I got down amongst the whalers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +and explorers, at the sight of <i>an iceberg under sail</i>!</p> + +<p>I have nothing more to tell of my adventures in the arctic seas. About +the middle of September, I had reached the more frequented parts of the +ocean, and every day was on the lookout for some friendly barque, to +liberate me from my dreary solitude. For months I had not heard the +sound of a human voice, and I began to long for the society of my +fellow-men. Every morning I posted myself, with a spy-glass, on the +highest peak of the berg, searching the horizon for a sail. My situation +on the deck was becoming every hour more and more precarious. The +melting of the ice underneath had already caused the stern to incline +very decidedly towards the in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>clined plane that led down to the ocean; +and I felt that the slightest jar might, at any time, precipitate the +whole concern, myself included, into the sea. I suppose, indeed, that +nothing but the counteracting influence of the sails, which filled in +the opposite direction, had prevented this catastrophe.</p> + +<p>At last, after many a long and weary watch, I descried, in the far-off +distance, a sail; but the vessel moved off towards the horizon, and was +soon lost to sight. It was a bitter disappointment; and still I thought +that wherever <i>one</i> ship was sailing, others would be likely to come in +sight before long. I kept the flag flying now all the time, and hardly +ventured to sleep at all, lest some vessel might pass by unnoticed. On +the twenty-fifth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> of September, as I woke from a short and broken +slumber, I descried, not more than two miles off, a ship, heading +directly for the berg. As soon as she was near enough for the signal to +be observed, I lowered and hoisted my flag five or six times in quick +succession; and, to my joy, I saw the signal answered. It was all right +now: the only question to be solved was, as to the manner in which I +would get on board the vessel. I anticipated that they would not venture +to bring the ship alongside of the berg, but would probably put out a +long-boat for my rescue. As soon as that came within hailing distance, I +would establish communication with the crew; and, between us all, I did +not doubt but some way would be found for me to escape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> In a short +time, as I had foreseen, the ship lay to; and the boat came off, and was +rowed to the foot of the inclined plane. I never saw a more astonished +set of men in my life. They were staring at me and my extraordinary +craft, as if their eyes would start from the sockets; and the coxswain +rose and shouted,—</p> + +<p>"Ahoy, up there! who are you?"</p> + +<p>"John Whopper," I replied, "eldest son of the Widow Whopper, now +residing in Roxbury, Mass., U. S. of America."</p> + +<p>"Gracious me!" cried one of the men, "I know Widow Whopper."</p> + +<p>"I hope you left her well?"</p> + +<p>"Much as usual," the sailor replied.</p> + +<p>I was very glad to hear it.</p> + +<p>"Where are you from?" shouted the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> coxswain again; "and where did you +get your rigging?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you when I get aboard."</p> + +<p>"Come aboard, then."</p> + +<p>"I don't exactly see how to manage it."</p> + +<p>"Come down the plane, and we will catch you."</p> + +<p>It was too steep and slippery for me to do that; but, on the instant, +another bright thought arose. "Pull off a hundred feet or so," I cried, +"and I will be along."</p> + +<p>As soon as I saw that they had rowed to a safe distance, I went to the +mast, and suddenly let the sail go. In an instant, I felt the deck +quiver; and it began to move, very slowly at first, and then with a +tremendous rush, right down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> the inclined plane. I grasped a rope with +all my might, and steadied myself for the shock that must come when my +craft plunged into the sea. But there was no shock at all; gently as a +ship slides on her cradle, when launched into the water, the old deck +glided off upon the waves, and in five minutes I found myself safely on +board the long-boat. No sooner, however, had I left the strange craft, +than it began to sink slowly into the depths; and the last thing that I +saw was the American flag floating on the bosom of the deep.</p> + +<p>What was said to me when I reached the ship, and what I said, I have not +time to relate; only I didn't tell every thing.</p> + +<p>The vessel proved to be a whaler,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> bound for New Bedford; where I +arrived in good condition, and took the cars for Roxbury, via the Boston +and Providence Road, <i>passing through Canton</i>.</p> + +<p>I found all well at home, and very much relieved by my arrival.<br /><br /></p> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> It will probably occur to the reader, that some one of +Johnny's adult friends has touched up the style a little along here. J. +W. says that this is true.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> John informs the editor that he never wrote a word of the +last lines, and that he thinks it about time for him to take the bellows +again.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Pronounced <i>gunnell</i>: "The uppermost bend which finishes +the upper works of the hull, and from which the upper guns, if the +vessel carry any, are pointed."</p></div> + +</div> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<center>THE END.<br /><br /><br /><br /></center> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30463 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30463-h/images/cover.jpg b/30463-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5bd8c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/30463-h/images/i_002.png b/30463-h/images/i_002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d24b873 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463-h/images/i_002.png diff --git a/30463-h/images/i_003.png b/30463-h/images/i_003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b461943 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463-h/images/i_003.png diff --git a/30463.txt b/30463.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..940ef76 --- /dev/null +++ b/30463.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1984 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Whopper, by Thomas March Clark + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Whopper + The Newsboy + +Author: Thomas March Clark + +Release Date: November 13, 2009 [EBook #30463] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN WHOPPER *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER IN CHINA, By the _Air-Line_ Route.] + + + [Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER AT THE NORTH POLE.] + + + + JOHN WHOPPER + + THE NEWSBOY. + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. + + BOSTON: + ROBERTS BROTHERS. + 1871. + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by + + ROBERTS BROTHERS, + + In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + + + + Stereotyped and Printed by + ALFRED MUDGE & SON, + Boston, Mass. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA. + + +Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I +started as usual very early to distribute my papers. I had a large +bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut +across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica +Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time. I do not care to tell +precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, +barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve. + +After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had +better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to +clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, +that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to +put my feet. All at once I lost my balance, and felt that I was sliding +down the side of a smooth, steep rock; while underneath, to my horror, I +saw what looked like a circular cave, or well, some five or six feet in +diameter. I tried to grasp the rock with my hands, and ground my heels +as hard as I could against the surface, but it was of no use; down I +slipped, faster and faster, until at last I plunged, feet foremost, into +the dark hole below. For a moment I held my breath, expecting to be +dashed to pieces; and oh, how many things I thought of in that short +minute! It seemed as if every thing that I had ever done came back to +me, especially all the _bad_ things; and how I wished then that I had +lived a better life! I thought, too, of my poor mother and my little +brother and sister at home, and how they would wait breakfast for me +that morning; and how they would keep on waiting and waiting, hour after +hour and day after day; and how the neighbors would all turn out and +search for me; and how I should never be found, and nobody would ever +know what had become of me. And then I wondered whether Mr. Simpson, +who employed me to distribute the papers, would suppose that I had run +away somewhere, to sell them on my own account; and so I went on +thinking and wondering, until it seemed as if there was no end to the +time. And yet I didn't strike the bottom of the cave, but just went on +falling and falling, faster and faster, in the darkness, and sometimes +just grazing the sides, and still not so as to hurt me much. My great +trouble was to breathe; when it occurred to me to lay the sleeve of my +coat across my mouth: and then I found that I could breathe through the +cloth with tolerable ease. After a while, I recovered my senses; and +though I continued to fall on still faster and faster, I experienced no +great inconvenience. How long this continued, I cannot tell; it +appeared to be an age; and I must have been falling for several hours, +when I began to feel as though I was not sinking as fast as I had been; +and after a while, it seemed as if I were rising up, rather than +tumbling down. As I was now able to breathe much more freely than I had +done, I began to think calmly about my condition; and then the thought +flashed across my mind, that perhaps I had passed the centre of the +earth, and was gradually rising to the surface on the other side. This +gave me hope; and when I found that I continued to move slower and +slower, I tried to collect my faculties, so that I might know just what +it would be best to do, if I should be so fortunate as to reach the +other end of the hole into which I had tumbled. At last, looking down, +I saw a little speck of light, like a very faint star; and then, I tell +you, my heart bounded with joy. At this moment it suddenly occurred to +me that it would not do to come out of the hole _feet foremost_; and, by +a tremendous effort, I managed to turn a complete summersault,--what the +boys always called a _somerset_,--which, of course, brought me into the +right position. How thankful I felt that I had been taught to practise +gymnastic exercises at the school in Roxbury! In my present attitude I +couldn't see the bright spot any longer: but, before long, I perceived +that it was growing lighter around me; and I was confident that the time +of my release drew near. I had determined exactly what I would do when +I reached the surface of the earth again; and, accordingly, on the +instant that my head came out of the hole, I grasped the edge with all +my might, and, by another terrible effort, swung myself up into the air, +and leaped upon the ground. + +It is impossible to describe the strange thrill that passed over me when +I thus found myself standing on what I knew must be the eastern side of +the globe. As soon as I had fairly recovered the use of my reason, I +began to speculate as to the region of the country into which I emerged. +If I had come directly through the centre of the earth, I knew, of +course, just where I ought to be; but this hardly seemed possible, +considering how short a time it had required for my journey. It then +occurred to me that I was really unable to form any accurate idea of +the number of hours that had elapsed since I left the soil of +Massachusetts; for, before I had fallen a hundred feet, a whole age +appeared to have passed. I knew that it was about six o'clock in the +morning when I started; and, on looking at my watch, I found that it had +stopped at 6.45, owing, as I afterwards ascertained, to the influence of +magnetic currents upon the hair-spring. + +The country around was in a high state of cultivation, except in the +immediate vicinity of the spot where I stood. This was rough and barren, +and so situated that the small cavity in the earth from which I had just +been released, would be very likely to escape observation. Thinking that +it might be important for me to be able hereafter to identify the +locality, I took a careful observation of its general bearings, and +twisted together a few of the twigs that grew near the hole, but in such +a manner as would not be likely to arrest attention. + +Striking off now at random, I soon found myself in a low, marshy region, +covered with a species of grain unlike any thing I had ever seen before, +but which I concluded must be rice; and then the thought came to me, +that very probably I was in China. After walking for an hour or two, I +reached a rising ground, and saw in the distance an immense city on the +water's edge; which from its position, and resemblance to certain +pictures that I had once seen in Boston, I believed to be Canton. +Refreshing myself with some fruit that grew by the wayside, I started +off in haste, in order, if possible, to reach the city before nightfall. +Just as the sun was setting, I entered what appeared to be one of the +main streets; when, tired and hungry and footsore, I began to think +seriously what I should do to procure food and lodging. Here I was,--a +poor boy in a strange land, unable to address a word to the people +around me, and with only a few cents and two or three bits of paper +currency in my pocket, that could be of no value in that country. _What +was I to do?_ Just then I came to a large and respectable-looking +building; and over the door there was this sign, in good plain +characters:-- + + "ENGLISH AND AMERICAN COFFEE-HOUSE." + +Tears of joy filled my eyes. In an instant, I said to myself, "Your +fortune is made, old fellow! Here you have thirty or forty Boston +newspapers, not twenty-four hours old, strapped around your neck; and I +rather think they will be in some demand in Canton." + +With a light heart I now entered the office of the hotel, and threw down +my bundle, with a good, black-leather covering around the papers, so +that it looked like an ordinary piece of luggage, which gave me the +appearance of a regular traveller; then called for a room, and ordered +supper. It was true that I had very little money in my possession,--not +enough, certainly, to pay my bill at the hotel; but no questions were +asked, and I gave myself little concern as to the future. I had a +first-rate appetite, and ate voraciously. + +After supper was over, I took my bundle in my hand, and strolled +leisurely into a pleasant and spacious room, where a number of +gentlemen--English and American--were sitting around in groups, some +chatting together, and others reading the London and New York and Boston +papers. Among them I recognized the face of a merchant whom I had seen +several times in State Street; and slinging the strap over my shoulder +in a careless, every-day sort of tone, just as any newsboy would have +done at home, I went up to him and said, "Have the morning papers, +Mister?--'morning papers?'--'Advertiser,' 'Journal,' 'Post,' 'Herald,' +last edition,--published this morning, _only five dollars_!" Everybody +in the room looked up, for I managed, as newsboys generally do, to speak +loud enough to drown every other sound; but no one uttered a word. It +was evident that they thought I was crazy, or something worse; and so I +just cried out again, "Have the morning paper, sir?" at the same time +thrusting a copy of "The Advertiser" into his hand. He looked like an +"Advertiser" kind of man,--well dressed and highly respectable. + +Involuntarily his eye glanced at the date,--"Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1867"; +and then, in an excited, quivering tone, he said, "Let me look at your +other papers." There was a long table in the centre of the room, which I +approached; and, slowly unfolding my bundle, I laid a few of the papers +wide open in front of the gentlemen, who crowded around in the highest +state of excitement. Still there was dead silence; when one of them +suddenly burst out with the exclamation, "Good heavens! Here is a notice +of the arrival of 'The Golconda' at New York, with a full account of the +cargo, and every thing else correct. Why, this must be genuine!" + +One after another followed with a cry of surprise at some news which +they had found; until, in a few minutes, every gentleman in the room was +absorbed in reading the papers, appearing to have entirely forgotten all +about me, and not caring to ask how it was that I had brought them to +China in less than twenty-four hours. After I had stood there whistling +carelessly as long as I thought worth while, I spoke up in a loud +voice, and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to be enjoying the news +pretty well. I hope you don't mean to forget to pay for the +papers,--_only five dollars a copy_!" + +At this speech every one of them looked at me with a strange expression, +as if they hardly knew whether I was a real human boy or something else; +when the Boston gentleman said, "How on earth did you get these papers +here?" To which I answered very carelessly, "I didn't get them here _on_ +earth." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will tell you what I mean, and answer your questions, after you have +paid me _five dollars each; and cheap at that, considering_." + +"Indeed it is, for me at least," said one of the gentlemen. "What I have +learned from this paper is worth to me, in a business way, thousands of +dollars"; and with that he came forward and put a hundred into my hand, +in the good, solid form of gold-pieces. His example had its effect upon +the others. Instead of the two hundred which I had hoped to receive for +my forty newspapers, I was actually in possession of not less +than--well, I don't care to tell exactly how much, on account of the +income-tax. + +"Come, now," said the gentlemen, almost in one breath, "tell us how +these papers came to China." + +"I brought them myself." + +"When did you leave America?" + +"The morning when these papers were printed: but how long ago that was, +I really don't know, as my watch stopped while I was on my voyage; only +I thought it was just as well to call out, as I always used to do at +home, 'Morning paper!' although, perhaps, for all I can tell, they may +be two or perhaps three days old; anyhow, I guess you find them a good +deal fresher than the rest you have got on hand." + +Having delivered myself of this somewhat protracted speech, I began +moving towards the door with the air of one who had said every thing +that could reasonably be expected, in reply to the curious inquiries of +my liberal patrons, when the Boston merchant motioned for me to stop, +saying with some severity, "Did you not promise that you would inform +the company how these papers came from America to China in such an +incredibly short period of time, whenever you should have received your +pay for the same?" + +"Yes, sir; and I just told you that I brought them over--not exactly +_over_--but--in short, I brought them here." + +"You say, 'not exactly _over_'; do you mean by that phrase to be +understood to say that you did not come over land?" + +"Your honor has hit my meaning precisely." + +"You don't pretend to say that you came by water?" + +"Far from it, sir." + +"How then, _under the heavens_, did you come?" + +"I didn't come under the heavens at all." + +"I don't believe," said the irritated gentleman, turning to his +companions, "that the fellow came at all; he must be lying." + +All the answer that he received was the rustling of forty newspapers, +bearing the imprint, "February 16, 1867, Boston." There was no getting +over this. + +After a pause of several minutes, during which a bright idea entered my +mind, I came forward into the circle, and said, "Well, gentlemen, I want +to see if I can make a good bargain with you; and when that is settled, +I will tell you how I came over--I mean, I will tell you how I got here; +that is, I will tell you _the route_ that I took. If I can arrange for +the delivery in Canton of the New York and Boston daily papers, within +thirty-six hours of the time when they are issued in those cities, will +you all promise to give me your generous patronage?" + +"Of course we will," they cried all together. + +"Very well; then I pledge myself to appear again in this place one week +from this day, ready to carry out my part of the bargain. And now, in +bidding you good-night, allow me to inform you that I came from America +to China by the _air-line_." + +With this I retired at once to my room, and was soon sleeping soundly. + +I knew that I should be watched so closely the next day as to make it +impossible for me to escape without detection; and accordingly I got up +an hour or two before daylight; and, having laid upon the table in my +room an amount of money which I supposed would be considered a fair +compensation for my supper and lodging, I tied the sheets together, and +lowered myself down into the then silent and deserted street. It was not +long before I found myself once more in the open country; and looking +carefully for the twisted twigs that I had tied together the afternoon +before, I soon discovered the chasm through which I had made my +remarkable trip to the eastern hemisphere. Taking the precaution to tie +a handkerchief over my mouth in order that I might economize my breath, +I summoned all my courage, and leaped into the hole. My experiences were +precisely the same as they had been in the previous journey; and in +course of a few hours, I found myself standing once more in the +familiar outskirts of Roxbury, and gazing tenderly upon the solemn dome +of Boston State House. As fast as my legs would take me, I rushed to my +poor mother's humble abode, longing to relieve the bitter agony to which +I knew she and my brother and sister must have been subjected during my +absence. It is not worth while for me to describe at length the scene +that ensued when I stood once more in the family circle, with my +mother's arms around my neck, and the young folks bellowing with joy. To +the frantic inquiries that were showered upon me as to what had +happened,--where I had been,--had I had any thing to eat? I coolly +replied that I had not had much to eat; and, if they would give me a +good, substantial supper, I would endeavor to relieve their minds. + +"Supper, indeed!" cried my good mother; "why, it's just after sunrise! +You haven't lost your senses, I hope." + +"I beg your pardon; but it was about sunrise hours and hours ago, when +I--when I"--and here I faltered, not caring just then to let the whole +family into my secret. + +"When you what?" said my mother, looking very anxious. + +"Why, when I left Canton," I now answered, very promptly. + +"You don't say that you have been to Canton?" she replied, but without +any such show of astonishment as might have been expected. + +"Yes, I have, mother. It occurred to me that I could sell my papers to +better advantage there than I could about here; and, indeed, I did, as +you may see." Whereupon I laid in her good old hand such a sum of money +as she had not clasped for many a day. + +"Did you get all this money by selling papers in Canton?" + +"I did, and a great deal more; which I am going to deposit by and by in +the Savings Bank to your credit." + +"There must be an awful demand for papers in Canton." + +"There is, mother; and they pay such high prices there, that I am +thinking of setting up a news establishment in the place." + +"And did you _walk_ all the way to Canton day before yesterday, my +boy?" + +"Then it was day before yesterday morning when I left home? I thought it +was longer ago than that." + +"Longer ago! Oh, dear, dear! you are not out of your head, my son?" + +"My good mother, I am as sound as you are. Only you know that sometimes, +when we are very much occupied, the time passes quickly; and I have been +quite busy since I left you." + +"And did you say that you walked to Canton?" + +"No, mother, I didn't walk a step." + +"Then you took the Providence cars?" + +"Well, mother, it was a kind of a providence car." + +[John's statement at once relieved the old lady's mind; but those of our +readers who are not intimately acquainted with the geography of +Massachusetts, may be somewhat puzzled at this. For the information of +foreigners and uneducated people in general, we must mention that there +is a thriving village on the Boston and Providence railroad, about ten +miles from Roxbury, which rejoices in the name of Canton. + +It may here be observed, that the young man's mind had got into a kind +of chronological muddle, and the days and nights were mixed up together +in the most miscellaneous manner. We, who are competent to solve any +ordinary problem, furnish our young readers with this explanation. John +left our American soil on Tuesday morning, at or about six o'clock. He +is twelve hours--there or thereabouts--passing through the earth. This +brings him to China also in the morning, as every thing is topsy-turvy +on the other side of the globe. His walk to Canton fills up most of the +day,--_Tuesday night here_. He sleeps in Canton one night. _Wednesday +here_; leaves Canton, _via_ Air-Line, the next morning,--_Wednesday +night here_; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent +from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling _via_ +Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country +in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British +and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and +consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his +singular tale of adventure, we remarked that he seemed to have had a +very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole +forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which +repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was +filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body. +We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet +again, and we let him speak for himself.] + +"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,--a bright +fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,--I told him in strict confidence +the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for +the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation. + +"I am now going," said I, "to Mr. Simpson's office, and shall pay him +handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with +him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in +advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock +precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up +and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the +centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,--always being +very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet +above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise +just four feet _above_ the surface on the other side, and I shall be +able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on +the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months, which ought +to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time +that you will be obliged to give to the work. + +"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On +every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an +hour; and between six and half-past six o'clock, be on the careful +lookout for a bundle _which I shall send to you_ from the other side. +This will contain my remittance for the week, which I wish you to +deposit to mother's credit in three places, the names of which I give +you on paper. She can then draw from time to time such sums as she may +need. + +"I shall remain at home for a few days and arrange to be in China next +Monday evening. On Tuesday morning you will forward the bundle of +papers." + +"Are you going to tell mother and sister all about this?" said Bob. + +"No: it would only worry them. I shall merely say that I have a great +opening for making money, and shall be obliged to be absent from home +for several months." + +"I think," said Bob, chuckling,--Bob labored under the delusion that he +was a wag,--"that it _is_ a great opening, or rather, I might say, a +_lengthy_ opening." + +Every thing was duly arranged according to the programme; and, on the +following Monday, I bade adieu for a while to the sweet light of day,--I +don't mean that I said exactly these words as I stood on the edge of the +hole--but that is the way in which it would be expressed in a +book,--and jumped boldly into the dark abyss. In due time I arrived +safely in China, and took lodgings in a small country inn about two +miles off, as I did not care to show myself at the Canton Coffee-House +until I had the papers in my possession. + +It was with a somewhat anxious heart that I went to my Air-Line Station, +as I had taken a fancy to call it, on Tuesday evening. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW JOHN GOT INTO TROUBLE IN CHINA. + + +It was Tuesday evening in good old Massachusetts, but not far from the +break of day in China. In order that I might be more sure to catch the +bundle of papers on its arrival, I had woven a net-work with my strong +twine, and securely fastened it to a stout wooden hoop. This I then +attached to a pole about six feet in length, and stood ready to swing +the net under the package as soon as it came within reach. The hour at +which I had calculated that the bundle ought to come in sight, provided +Bob had been prompt to the time that I had prescribed, had now passed, +and I began to feel excited and uneasy. "What if Bob had forgotten to +hold the package high enough from the surface when he dropped it, and so +the momentum had not proved sufficient to drive it _clear through_ the +hole? What if it had struck against the sides of the cavity, and so the +friction had stopped it on the way? What if the velocity with which it +must have fallen during the first few thousand miles had torn the +package in pieces, and the papers had been left floating about in the +centre of the earth? What if Bob had been taken ill?"--just at this +moment my fears and speculations were arrested by the sight of a small +white object, looking like a flake of snow, away down the hole, +hundreds of feet away, as it seemed to me. My heart almost ceased to +beat; the white object was coming nearer and nearer, and looking larger +and larger every second. But it is moving slower and slower all the +time, as if it was nearly tired out! Perhaps it will not come _quite_ +within reach after all? What an awful disappointment that would be! No! +it doesn't quite stop--_up_ it comes--ten feet more and I will have it; +five feet more--hurra! underneath goes the stout net, and the precious +bundle is clasped safely in my arms. + +I was so exhausted by anxiety and excitement, that I had to sit down for +a while, that I might recover my strength. I really do not think that I +was half so much overcome when I first came out of the hole myself. + +And now for the city, to keep my appointment with the gentlemen at the +Coffee-House. I had hired a pony to carry me to Canton, and had fastened +it to a tree near by; and very soon I was galloping off like lightning. +About ten o'clock, I reached the hotel; and, after stopping for a glass +of water at the office to clear my throat, I entered the room where I +knew my patrons would be assembled, and threw my bundle down upon the +table. + +Every man there started to his feet; but such was their surprise at my +appearance,--for not a soul amongst them ever dreamed that I would keep +my appointment,--that for one or two minutes, as before, not a word was +spoken. While they all stood around staring at me as if I had just +dropped from the clouds, I proceeded very leisurely to untie the +strings of the package; when, with a simultaneous movement, my eager +customers rushed towards the table, reaching out their hands frantically +for the papers. + +"Gentlemen," said I, in a clear, collected voice, "before proceeding to +distribute the mail, allow me to offer a few brief remarks." I had +written out this speech, and committed it to memory. "It is very natural +that you should have great curiosity to know by what means I have +managed to redeem the pledge that I gave you a short time ago. In the +presence of gentlemen so enlightened as you are, I hardly need to say +that the speedy communication which I have been enabled to make with the +Western world is effected by no supernatural agency, but by a wonderful +discovery in the realms of nature, the precise character of which I do +not at present consider it expedient to disclose. Let it suffice, that I +am able to furnish you, at reasonable rates, with the latest +intelligence from the United States of America; and I wish it to be +distinctly understood, that if I ever have reason to suspect that my +movements are watched, or that any efforts are made to detect my secret, +from that time my contract with you is at an end. I also desire to +stipulate that no statement of my transactions with you shall be allowed +to find its way into the public prints, either in China or America. Let +the whole matter remain a profound secret between us; your own interest +will be consulted by this as well as mine. If, indeed, it should so +happen that you should ever see any remarkable and novel movement in +the heavens, of course I cannot hinder you from forming your own +impressions, and making your own deductions from the phenomena. + +"And now, gentlemen, every morning between ten and eleven o'clock, I +propose to be here with the papers; _price one dollar per copy, cash on +delivery_." + +The bundle, containing one hundred papers, was immediately disposed of; +some gentlemen taking two or three, and others half a dozen. + +The tongues of my patrons were now unloosed, and they all acceded +unhesitatingly to the terms which I had proposed. An elderly Englishman, +with a very white waistcoat, and a very large watch-chain, came up to +me, and, patting my shoulder, said, "Why, my son, you have done better +than you promised; you have given us the newspapers in much less than +thirty-six hours after their issue at home." + +"Yes, sir," I replied; "I intended to get them here in about _sixteen_ +hours; but I thought it more prudent to say thirty-six, +because--because"--I hardly knew what reason to give, without betraying +myself--"because, sir, I wasn't certain how the magnetic currents might +operate." + +"Ah-hah-ah, I begin to see. Magnetic currents in the heavens, in the +atmosphere." + +"Yes, sir," I answered promptly, "in the _atmosphere_." + +This was true enough; but I could not say in the _heavens_, without +telling an untruth; and this I always regarded as a great sin. + +"Don't you think," continued my English friend, "that, when you bring +the American papers over, you could just stop on the way, and get a copy +or two of 'The London Times'?" + +"I do not go for the papers myself." + +"You don't mean to say that they come entirely by themselves?" he +replied, looking more perplexed and astounded than I can describe. + +"Of course not," I said, breaking into a hearty laugh. "I have a partner +on the other side, who will forward them to me every morning." + +"Then they do come of themselves, after they are once started?" + +"Why, yes," I said, feeling a little embarrassed, and very much afraid +that I might commit myself, "after the proper impulse and direction are +given, they do come of themselves." + +"But how, in the name of all that is marvellous, after the package gets +into the right magnetic current, does it manage to alight in this +vicinity?" + +"That is easily explained by the laws of gravity." + +The attention of all present was arrested by this conversation, and I +began to feel that I was getting upon dangerous ground. + +"Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, taking hold of the handle of the door, +"from answering any more questions at this time. My mind is getting a +little confused; and, what is more, I am very hungry." Upon which I +retired to the dining-room. + +Every thing went on successfully during the remainder of the week; all +the packages arrived safely and in good order, and on Friday evening I +was ready to remit several hundred dollars to my brother. At the same +time, I thought that it was proper for me to write a few lines to my +good mother; and accordingly I sat down and made out quite a long +letter, which I enclosed in the same bundle with the money. + +On Saturday evening, the papers arrived half an hour later than usual, +as I had arranged with Bob; and on the wrapper I was delighted to read, +in great, scrawling letters, "_All right: money and letters received._" + +On Sunday, as I was lying in my hammock, and thinking of home, it came +to my mind that my dear mother had probably expected me to pass the day +with her; and then for the first time it flashed across me, that, when I +wrote her on Friday, I entirely forgot that she supposed me all the +while to have been in the little town of Canton, on the Boston and +Providence Railroad. "What on earth," I said to myself, "will she +imagine when she reads my letter? I certainly must have betrayed myself. +I don't remember exactly what it was that I wrote; but there must have +been some things in the letter that will lead the poor old lady to +suppose that I am crazy. Well, perhaps I shall know more about it when +the next bundle comes; and I will try to be patient until then." + +The next morning I awaited the usual arrival with great anxiety; and, as +soon as the package came into my hands, I tore off the outer covering, +and, to my great relief, found a letter in my mother's handwriting, +addressed,-- + + "MASTER JOHN WHOPPER, CANTON, MASS." + + It read as follows:-- + + ROXBURY, March, 1867. + + MY DEAREST JOHN,--I was very much disappointed that you did not + come home to pass the Sabbath. I had a nice dinner all ready for + you; and your little sister cried hard when she found that you were + not to sit down with us. We were all very glad, however, to get + your letter; and I am thankful that you have been so prospered in + your business. I had no idea that you would be able to make so much + money by selling papers in Canton: they must be a great reading + community. I hope, my dear son, that all is made honestly. There + are some things in your letter which have puzzled me a little, and + I do not know that I exactly understand all that you say. You also + speak of visiting the Joss-house once or twice. I never knew any + family of that name: only I happen to remember, that, up in + Manchester, there were quite a large number of people by the name + of Josslyn; and sometimes the boys used to call them, in sport, + "the Josses." It is not a good habit to give nicknames to other + persons, especially where you visit the family. You also speak of + their burning a great deal of colored paper, and a great many + scented sticks before an image. I asked Bob what he thought this + meant: but he jumped right behind the closet-door, and made the + most extraordinary noises with his mouth that I ever heard; and + when he came out again his eyes were full of tears, and he looked + as if he had had a fit. "Bob," said I, "what is the matter?" "I + have had a high-strike,"--he should have said high-sterick,--"I do + have 'em sometimes." "Robert," I said very seriously, "what do you + think your brother means?" + + "Well," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if the Josses had a bust of + Daniel Webster or Henry Clay in their parlor, and perhaps they burn + things round it to keep off the flies." Then he began to laugh + again, and I could not tell whether he was in earnest or not. I am + not very much pleased to hear you say that you go out in the + afternoon to fly kites with a parcel of old mandarins. I think that + you might find some better use for your time; and I am afraid from + the way in which you speak of them, that these old mandarins are + not very respectable characters. Your brother says that kite-flying + means speculating, and that the mandarins are probably brokers. I + trust, my dear boy, that you are not making any of your money in + this way. Who is this Chim-jung-tsee, who is to be your teacher? It + is a very strange name for a Christian to be called by, and I don't + like the sound of it. And what do you mean, when you say you want + to learn the language so that you may be able to talk with the + natives? I never stopped in Canton but once, and that was when the + axle-tree of the engine, or something else, broke down. There were + a good many people from the village came up to the depot then; and + I heard them talk for more than an hour, and I understood every + word they said. I am almost afraid that your application to + business, and selling your papers at such a profit, is turning your + brain. You must not work too hard, and you must be careful about + your diet. I shall try and send you a bundle of doughnuts next + week, when I fry. There is something in your letter about eating + rats and birds'-nests, and other horrible things. I suppose that + you intend that for a joke. I wish that you would tell me where you + pass your evenings, and what kind of books you are reading, and how + many meeting-houses there are in Canton, and where you go to + meeting. Whenever you have to stay there over the Sabbath, I would + like to have you write out a full account of the sermons that you + hear. We all hope that you will come to see us next Saturday + night. Bob says that you are so busy that you will not be able to + leave; and that you have to sit up all night, and then sleep in the + day-time. Bob and Mamie send their best love. I will send a pair of + socks with the doughnuts. Your little sister says, "Tell brother + that I want him to bring me something pretty from Canton." I don't + know but she thinks you are away off in the great city of Canton, + in China. Write as often as you can to + + Your very affectionate mother, + + DEBORAH WHOPPER. + +I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I had read the letter, and +so I did a little of both. I could not bear to think that my mother +should be so deceived, and so bewildered; but it would distress her +sadly if she really knew where I had gone, and how I got there. I had +some doubts, too, whether she would be able to keep the secret long, for +they worm every thing out of her at the Dorcas Society. So I concluded +that I would write her another letter, at the end of the week, which +wouldn't give her any trouble. Week after week passed by without any +interruption of my business; and I devoted three hours every day to the +study of the Chinese language, under the direction of Chim-jung-tsee, a +young Chinaman who spoke pigeon-English very well, and had been highly +recommended by one of the waiters at the hotel. He was a very sleek, +smooth-spoken fellow: the top of his shaved head shone like a billiard +ball, and his tail hung four feet and a half from his shoulders. I +didn't altogether like the expression of his eyes; for although they +were usually turned up at the outside corners, like other Chinese eyes, +sometimes I would catch him with one of them turned down at the corner, +and then he seemed to be looking at me with one eye, and looking out of +the window with the other. His nails were longer than any I had seen in +Canton; and he usually wore stout leather cots on the ends of his +fingers, to protect them from injury. I never knew him to lose his +temper but once; and that was when, just for the fun of the thing, I +managed to snip off an inch or two from one of his nails with my +pen-knife. From that moment, I have reason to believe that he became my +deadly foe. He couldn't have made more of an outcry, had he lost his +arm. + +One day, as I entered my room, I found the young man carefully studying +a copy of "The New-York Times," which, contrary to my custom, I had +thoughtlessly left exposed on the desk. After the hours of study were +over, he asked, in an off-hand kind of way, how far New York was from +Canton. I thought it likely that the fellow knew already, and therefore +I did not hesitate to tell him. He then took up the New York paper +again, and, looking with great care at the date, began to count his +fingers, mumbling something to himself in Chinese which I could not +understand. Nothing more passed between us on the subject; but I felt +from that day that I had a spy upon me. I did not like to discharge him +from my service, because that would only excite him to greater +mischief, and I never thought for a moment of taking him into my +confidence. + +One Friday morning, just as I had finished dressing, there was a loud +knock at the door of my room; and three Chinese officials entered, who, +having first tied my arms behind my back, and fastened a short chain to +my ankles, proceeded to search every nook and corner of the premises. + +The evening before, I had fortunately converted all the money that I had +on hand into a bill of exchange, and this was concealed about my person. +The great object of their search appeared to be newspapers; and, after +rifling my boxes and desk of every thing in this form, I was marched +off into the street, without a word being said by my captors. To all my +remonstrances, the only reply that I got was the holding up before my +face of a piece of yellow paper, with a huge green seal in the corner. +Without being subjected to any form of trial, I was taken at once to +prison. I found myself the occupant of a cell about ten feet square, +with one window secured by an iron grating. The furniture of the cell +consisted of a bamboo chair, a small table, and a low bedstead. I was +glad to find that every thing looked neat and clean. I remained in this +place for several days in utter solitude, except when my meals were +brought to me; and then all that I could get out of my attendant was, +"Me no talkee." I had not the slightest doubt who it was that had +caused me to be imprisoned; and I determined, that, if Chim-jung-tsee +ever came within my reach again, I would cut off every one of his +atrocious finger-nails. As I lay there thinking over all my wonderful +experiences, I could not but feel sad at what I knew must be Bob's +disappointment, when, after waiting hour by hour for my package to +arrive on Saturday morning, nothing appeared. Anticipating that I might +have trouble in China, I had directed, in case my remittance did not +reach him, that he should send no more papers through the hole, so that +no loss would occur on this score; and I knew that he was shrewd enough +to keep my mother and sister from having any undue anxiety. Then I fell +to wondering whether my friends at the coffee-house had all forgotten +me, and how they managed to get along without their papers. I soon found +out that they had _not_ quite forgotten me; although, for obvious +reasons, it would not do for them to interfere with the authorities in +my behalf. + +One afternoon, as I stood looking out from my window upon an open +square, where hundreds of people, young and old, high and low, were +amusing themselves by flying kites, I observed, among the monsters that +filled the air,--dragons, griffins, cormorants, sharks, and numberless +other fantastic shapes,--one kite that arrested my eye and fixed my +attention. It was in the form of an American eagle, with red and white +stripes on the wings, and brilliant stars all over the body. From the +peculiar movements of this kite, I was led to believe that it was an +omen of hope for me, and that whoever held the string intended to do me +a service. In the course of half an hour, the kite was floated directly +across my window, and I saw that there was a paper pinned on the back. +As soon as it came within reach, I thrust my hands through the bars, and +in an instant tore the paper off. Unfolding it, I found in the inside +three steel-spring saws, and read these words: "As soon as you have +sawed away the bars, tie a white rag on the grating. On the first +evening after this, when the wind is favorable, a kite will be flown to +the window. Pull in the string very carefully, and you will come to a +larger cord. Keep pulling until a rope-ladder reaches you. Fasten this +securely to the window, and follow the ladder down over the wall. You +will there find your old pony fastened to a tree: jump on and be off. +Strapped on his back you will see a can of condensed food and a jar of +water, enough to supply you for some days. Success to you!" This paper I +at once tore into small pieces, and, as soon as it was dark, threw the +fragments out of the window. I now went to work with a light heart to +saw away the iron bars, preserving the filings, which I moulded up with +a bit of bread, to fill the gaps that I made with my saws in the +grating, in order to avoid detection in case the room should be +examined. In the course of about a week, I had cut through the iron so +far that I knew it would be easy with one good wrench to tear away the +grating; and then, with a throbbing pulse, in the afternoon I tied a +piece of white cloth on the sash, as I had been directed. That night +there was not a breath of wind, and I knew that I had no hope of rescue +at present. I tried to sleep, but found myself constantly rising up and +listening for the breeze. The next day the kites were flying merrily; +and among them I saw the good old eagle, with a large round white spot +on his back, which I interpreted to mean that my signal had been +discovered. It seemed to me that the sun would never set that evening, +and I was in mortal fear that when it did the wind would also go down. +At last, the shadows of night descended upon the earth, and still the +breeze blew finely. I waited at the window, and watched with all my eyes +until near midnight, when, to my delight, I saw the shadow of a kite +coming between me and the stars. With one quick, strong pull I wrenched +the grating out, and stood with my head projecting from the hole, ready +to catch the kite. As soon as I got hold of it, I found that there were +two strings attached; and I was careful to cut only one, as the other +was probably intended to remove the kite, and pull it to the ground +again. After hauling in the twine and the stronger cords fastened to it, +I found the rope-ladder in my grasp; and in a very short time it was +fastened to the iron bars below the grating that I had removed. At the +same moment, I felt that some one at the other end was hauling the +ladder in tight, and no doubt securing it below. Five minutes later and +I was free! Not a human being was in sight as I stood once more on the +earth: my confederate, whoever he was,--now that every thing was +accomplished that he could do,--probably thinking it was safer for him +to be out of the way. But there stood my beloved pony, who had carried +me so often from the Air-Line Station to Canton; and, before many +seconds had passed, he was making the sparks fly under his feet as we +headed for the old familiar spot in the country. It was not necessary +for me to guide him; dark as it was, the pony knew the way well enough; +and I soon reached the cavity, through which I hoped to visit "my own, +my native land," where people are not arrested without knowing what is +the crime with which they are charged. Removing the jar of water and the +can of food from my pony's back, without stopping to think why I did it, +but following a sort of instinct which afterwards saved me from +perishing, I fastened these articles on my shoulders and around my +waist; then, sobbing, threw my arms around poor pony's neck, and with a +pang bade him good-by. He flew snorting away to his stable, where I have +no doubt he soon found comfort in a quart or two of rice and a peck of +oats. + +And now, strange to say, although I had accomplished the journey through +the earth three times with entire safety, I shrank with dread from the +thought of jumping once more in the dark hole beneath. I suppose the +trials which I had just endured had unstrung my nerves, and that the +solemn hour of the night made the leap seem all the more fearful. And +yet _through I must go_. China was not the place for me to remain in any +longer; and so I stepped down some two or three feet into the cavity, +and stood upon a little projection of rock, feeling that it would +require less effort to drop from this place downward than to leap from +the surface. Seizing the projecting rock with my hands, I then let go, +and down I went. It was a relief to find that I was now fairly under +way; and when, after the lapse of a few hours, I began to see daylight +brightening around me, I thought that all my cares were about to end. +Brighter and brighter it grew, and I had almost reached the edge of the +hole, when, to my horror, I found that the motion of my body was ceasing +altogether. Could it be that I had made a fatal mistake in dropping from +that inner ledge on the other side, instead of jumping boldly from the +surface? It must be so. Oh, what a fool I was! I might have known that +the projectile power would not be sufficient to take me clear through! +What will become of me? For, at this moment, I felt myself beginning to +sink back again into the bowels of the earth. And there through the +long, long hours, I swung backwards and forwards like an enormous +pendulum,--every time that I rose and fell, with a shorter and shorter +range,--until I stopped in equilibrium at the centre of the earth. The +sensation of absolute rest was more terrible than motion. There I was +alive, buried deeper than any other being ever was before. Was there any +possible way in which I could extricate myself? I now made a great +effort to collect my thoughts, and give to this question careful +consideration. At last, a bright idea came into my mind. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT CAUGHT IN THE EARTH, AND THEN GOT OUT AGAIN. + + +The idea that came to me was at first very vague and indefinite; neither +was it at all certain that my plan could be carried out. It had been +suggested by a peculiar sound which fell upon my ear as soon as I became +stationary, and which had continued to reverberate through the darkness +all the while. As I had been obliged, while in China, to be about so +much at night, I had provided myself with one of those compact lanterns, +which can be folded up, and carried in the pocket, with a good supply +of best wax matches. The first thing to be done was to strike a light, +and see what sort of a place I was floating in. The sensation of +floating in equilibrium was delightful and soothing; and yet I felt that +it would be a relief to touch something solid. As soon as my candle +lighted up the cavity, I saw that the walls of my strange abode were +perforated in various places by holes, some of which were large enough +to admit my body. Taking my cap from my head, I found that by waving it +in the air I could readily waft my body in whatever direction I chose; +and, in less than a minute, I found myself comfortably seated in the +largest and most convenient of these cavities. I now felt the need of +food and drink; and, before proceeding to do any thing else, I opened +one of the cans of concentrated meat, and with a glass of water from the +jar which I had so fortunately brought with me, I made quite a nice +meal. With all the burden that weighed upon my mind, I could not help +smiling when I thought that I was the only person that had ever dined in +that particular locality. After dinner, I stretched myself out, and took +a good long sleep. At last I awoke as bright as a lark, and began to +explore the surrounding region. The point that I wished particularly to +determine was this: What is the cause of the low, grinding sound that I +continually hear? and from what locality does it proceed? Upon the +answer to these questions depended all my hopes of escape. Strapping +the jar and cans securely about me, I thought that I would try to +penetrate the orifice which I had entered; but, as soon as I got upon my +feet, the slight muscular effort that I made in walking lifted me again +into the air, and I found myself once more in equilibrium. At first this +discouraged and perplexed me; but observing that I could propel myself +with the greatest ease by just fanning the air, as before, with my cap, +I concluded that this was a very easy as well as rapid mode of +locomotion. As I advanced farther and farther into the cavity, I found +that the grating noise, to which I have alluded, grew louder and more +distinct; and after moving along, perhaps about two miles, I came in +sight of an immense cylinder, the size of which it was impossible for +me to estimate, as I could see only a small section of the surface. +Floating on, I laid myself alongside of the great tube, and, taking my +knife from my pocket, tapped the cylinder several times, and found that +it was composed of some very hard and resonant metal, entirely unlike +any thing that I had ever seen before. It was of a bright vermilion +color, highly polished in certain places, and somewhat rough and +honey-combed in others. From the vibration that came when I struck it +with my knife, I inferred that it must be hollow. I only needed to try +one further experiment, in order to be satisfied that my suspicions and +hopes as to the nature of this cylinder, and the cause of the peculiar +sound that I had heard, and which now reverberated loudly on every +side, were correct. Observing that, at a point not far off, the cylinder +came almost in contact with the wall that surrounded it, I approached +the spot, and stuck two red wafers, one on the cylinder, and the other +directly opposite to it on the wall, with a distance of not more than an +inch between them. I would here observe, in explanation of my happening +to have these wafers about me, that they still continued to be used in +China, and I generally carried half a dozen or more about me in a stiff +envelope. Now came the crisis of my destiny! If the relative position of +the wafers remained for an hour unchanged, there was no hope for poor +John Whopper. With my watch--which, by the way, I had protected against +the disturbance of the magnetic currents by a compensation balance--in +my hand, I gazed earnestly and anxiously upon the two wafers. Fifteen +minutes passed. In this time, the earth had revolved one ninety-sixth +part of its daily course, and the inhabitants on the surface had +travelled two hundred and fifty miles. If my hopes are well founded, it +is hardly time yet for me to perceive any change in the two red spots +upon which my gaze is fixed. A half hour slowly passes. I do believe +that the wafers are not directly opposite to each other! let me wait a +little while longer, that I may be certain. There is no mistake about +it,--the right edge of one wafer just touches the left edge of the +other. Eureka! Hurrah! I am right. I am right. This big cylinder is +_the axis of the earth_, fixed and immovable; and these huge walls are +revolving round it. There's a discovery to make a man immortal! What +fools the old geographers were that used to say,--"the axis is an +_imaginary line_, running through," etc., etc. The name of Whopper will +now be heralded to all coming generations with the names of Bacon and +Newton and La Place and Humboldt, and all the rest of them! Fame, with +her great silver trumpet-- + +"Stop, my boy," I imagine the impatient reader is now saying. "You had +better get out into daylight before you crow so loud; we don't see how +your great discovery is going to help you to do that." I presume not; +but you _will_ see, if you are only patient. + +I now reasoned thus with myself: "If the axis of the earth is +hollow,--about which I have no doubt,--and open at both ends,--inasmuch +as it is winter at the south pole when it is summer at the north, and +_vice versa_,--there must always be a strong current of air passing +through it,--the cold air of one extreme rushing into the warmer region +at the opposite pole. I have, then, only to find some way of introducing +my body into the interior of this axis; and, by taking advantage of the +current, I shall soon be able to see daylight again." + +The next thing, therefore, to be done was to find out whether it would +be possible for me to get inside the cylinder. I had observed, that in +some places the metal of which it was composed, showed the appearance +of being honey-combed; and this gave me some encouragement. I now +crawled, or rather swam, about the surface of this cylindrical mass of +metal, and soon found an orifice large enough for me to thrust in my +hand and arm up to the elbow. True enough, there _was_ a strong draught +in there, so strong that it seemed as if my arm would be wrenched from +the socket. Every doubt and difficulty were now removed, if I could only +find a hole in the cylinder three feet in diameter; and after an hour's +search, I lighted upon just what I wanted,--a good smooth opening, and +somewhat larger than was actually needed to pass my body through. This, +however, was fortunate, because I must have space enough to project +myself with some force from the orifice, or I might strike the side of +the cylinder, and be dashed into fragments. + +Every thing was now ready: nerving my whole system for the terrible +effort and the frightful risk, I sprang with all my might into the axis +of the earth. After what I had experienced when I put my arm into the +cylinder, I expected, of course, as soon as my whole body was thrown in +there, that I should undergo the terrible sensation of being whirled +upward by a tornado. Instead of this, to my astonishment, the moment +that I had cleared the orifice through which I jumped I felt as though I +were floating stationary in the air. Could it be that I was deceived in +regard to the existence of the current? This could hardly be: it was not +possible that I was stationary, for the hole through which I leaped had +vanished in a flash. It then for the first time occurred to me, that +being in the current, and as it were _a part_ of the current, moving in +it and _with_ it without any resistance, it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was advancing or not; and then I remembered how men that +went up in balloons, after they had lost sight of the earth, could not +perceive whether they were in motion or at rest; and how our teacher at +the Roxbury school used to explain the fact that we were not conscious +of the rotation of the globe on which we stood, upon the same principle. +When I thought of all this, I broke into a loud laugh, and for a long +time I could hear the echoes thundering through the cylinder. + +I cannot say how glad I felt that my journey through the axis of the +earth occurred at that period of the year when the current set from the +south to the north. The prospect of safety if I were to be discharged +from the south pole, would be slight indeed; but familiarity with the +writings of various explorers in the Arctic regions gave me the very +natural feeling that I should be in a measure at home in that part of +the world. + +The absence of any sense of motion, with the quietness and darkness that +surrounded me, began to induce a feeling of weariness; and I thought +that I should like to see how it looked where I was; so I lighted my +lantern, which I had extinguished when I leaped into the axis, when the +most dazzling and marvellous sight burst upon my view. I found that I +was not very far from the side of the cylinder, which was +polished--probably by the constant friction of the swift current passing +through it--so that it glistened like a diamond, only it was of one +uniform vermilion hue. Reflected, as in a fiery mirror, I caught an +occasional glimpse of myself, magnified to a gigantic size by the +concave form of the cylinder, and elongated in the most remarkable +manner by the rapidity with which I shot by the surface; and, after +this, I had no further doubts as to whether I was moving on or standing +still. I next amused myself by making all sorts of uproarious sounds, +which were repeated up and down, and back and forth, from the metallic +walls, until I was somewhat frightened at the cries I made; for it +seemed as if fifty wild demons were shouting and yelling around me. +There are some of my readers who will remember the old chemical chimney +in Roxbury, and what strange sounds were heard there when the boys stood +below, laughing and talking. What I now heard recalled most vividly all +those experiences. To soothe my mind a little, I then took a jews-harp +from my pocket and played the "Star-spangled Banner." The effect was +beautiful and almost magical, and I sank at once into a delicious +reverie. + +But, as the time drew near when I supposed that I might expect to emerge +from my present position, I began to feel anxious as to what would +become of me when I came out. I anticipated, of course, that, moving at +such a fearful rate, I must expect to shoot up rather high in the air; +and the question was, where I should probably land. If, as is generally +supposed, it is a clear, open sea at the pole, I shall not _land_ at +all, but come down into the water. In this case, I am inevitably lost: +but still my faith was not shaken; after all that I had endured, it did +not seem likely that I should be left to perish in the sea. I could do +nothing but trust and wait. + +In process of time the light began to steal in upon the darkness, and I +knew that another crisis was approaching,--the most trying and +formidable that I had been called to encounter. And, shortly, out I +went, high up in the air,--higher--higher,--until I thought that I +should never come down again. But, after a time, I felt that I was +descending; and the fear came upon me that I might tumble back once more +into the axis of the earth. If I had reflected a moment, I might have +perceived that this would be impossible; for, as soon as I had sunk from +my elevation down to a point not more than a hundred feet from the end +of the pole, I met the swift current of air rushing out, and was once +more hoisted up in the clouds. This was repeated several times over; and +I found myself in the condition of a cork ball, sustained in the air by +a stream of water from a fountain. It is a little odd, that at this time +there came to my mind a vivid recollection of such a cork ball that I +used to see tossing about in front of the hotel that formerly stood at +the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston. At last it +occurred to me, that if at the time when I had nearly reached the +highest point of my ascent, and therefore must be moving very slowly, I +should fan the air with my cap, as I did before, it might waft me out of +the line of the north pole; and that I might as well come down into the +sea and be drowned, as to keep on bobbing up and down in this way +forever. The experiment was successful; and the next time that I +descended, I came gently, not into the water, but into a soft yielding +drift of snow, which entirely broke the force of my fall. + +I felt sure now that all was right; and, scrambling out of the snow, I +looked about to see where I was. All around, in every direction, there +was an open sea extending to the horizon; and it was evident that I had +lighted upon an iceberg, which had floated northward from a more +southern region. After I had refreshed myself with a little food, I +proceeded to explore the frozen island, of which I had so unexpectedly +become the sole proprietor. + +I am afraid that some of my readers may think that there is a tone of +exaggeration in my story as I proceed to narrate what I found there. +Thus far, it must be allowed by all that I have kept within range of +_possibility_, if not of probability; I have been careful to explain +minutely and scientifically just how every thing came about; and if it +should ever become as familiar a thing to travel _through_ the earth as +it is now to shoot over its surface on railroads, and send messages +instantaneously from one end of the world to the other, this narrative +will not sound so very strange after all. But in telling what I found on +the iceberg, and what happened to me there, I may have to tax somewhat +the credulity of my readers. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. AND LAST. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT ALONG AT THE NORTH POLE. + + +I shall now give the general result of an exploration of the iceberg, +which occupied me for several days. I use the word _day_ in the ordinary +sense, as indicating a period of twenty-four hours; although, during my +stay in the arctic region, the daylight was perpetual. This frozen +island, which was to be for a time my habitation, extended, so far as I +could judge, over an area of about five hundred acres; but there were +certain marks about the surface and cleavages on the sides, which +indicated that it was originally of much greater size. It was also very +evident that it had assumed its form, and been detached from the shore, +at some point on the coast many degrees remote from its present +position, and had then been driven towards the pole by some +extraordinary current into which it had happened to fall. At some former +period, this iceberg must have floated, or been stationary, in a region +where game abounded and birds were plenty; where vessels sailed, and +where vessels were wrecked; and, when it was launched from the shore, it +carried off with it not less than an acre of good, rich loam,--the +effect, probably, of a land-slide in the vicinity. It will, I think, be +seen that it is only upon this general supposition, that we can account +for what I found there. I may here observe, before proceeding further, +that, while on three sides the walls of the berg rose almost +perpendicularly out of the sea, yet on the remaining side there was +quite an easy and gradual slope down to the water; and this may also +serve to explain how some of the things that I found on the island were +thrown or lifted there. + +The food that I had brought with me from Canton was soon exhausted; and +the first great want that I experienced was the means of keeping my soul +in my body. In the deep crevices of the ice, I found places where I +could manage in a measure to shelter my body from the cold while I +slept; but what reasonable prospect had I of finding food in this +forlorn spot? I now began to feel the pangs of hunger; but, instead of +yielding to despair, with a stout heart I determined to search the +region thoroughly, and see if a kind Providence had not made some +provision for my wants. After roaming about for a while, my foot struck +upon a little keg, partially embedded in the ice; and, to my joy, I read +the mark on the top, "Bent's Hard Crackers, Milton, Mass." It took me +hardly a minute to kick it open; and there the crackers lay, as sound +and sweet as when they were first packed. I do not know exactly how many +I ate, but I should say not much over fifteen. The keg was then put in a +safe place, where I should be certain to find it by and by. In the +course of the forenoon, I came upon a frozen bear; and I also found, in +the same vicinity, plenty of old barrel-staves, and broken hoops, and +other pieces of wood, great and small, which I laid in a heap upon the +earth. "Now," said I, "we will have a bit of roast meat for dinner, with +a few toasted crackers for dessert." Before two o'clock, I had a bright +fire burning, and a delicate slice of the bear roasting before it. + +The next thing to be done was to strip the bear of his skin; but this I +found to be a difficult task. It had been a tough job to cut out with my +jack-knife the frozen slice of meat upon which I had just dined; and it +was impossible to strip off the skin without tearing it in pieces. A +bright thought now occurred to me, and I proceeded to kindle a fire all +around the animal; and when the heat had become strong enough just to +loosen the hide from the carcass, I went to work, and, in an hour or +two, had a nice warm robe to wrap myself in at night. At the same time I +extinguished the fire, as I did not care to cook the entire bear all at +once. + +My jar of water gave out the day that I was dropped upon the berg; and +at first I thought that I could quench my thirst by eating small bits of +ice, but I soon found that this only increased the difficulty. I then +remembered to have read in a magazine, that the amount of caloric taken +out of the system in order to melt the ice in one's mouth was so great +as to only increase the feeling of thirst. All anxiety, however, on this +point was soon at an end; for the sun was now hot enough, for an hour +or two at noon, to melt a sufficient quantity of the loose snow in +certain localities to furnish all the water that I needed. + +With my bear-meat and Bent's crackers for food, and my bearskin for a +blanket, I might now be considered for the present as above the reach of +absolute want; and still it is not to be supposed that I was in a very +contented and happy frame of mind. I was very thankful for all the +mercies that I had received; and, when I looked back upon all the +wonderful deliverances that I had experienced, I could not help feeling +confident that all would go well with me hereafter.[1] + +But the great want that I felt was _a home_, or at least +something,--some hut or hovel, or hole in the ground,--to which I might +retire when my labor was over, where I could eat my frugal meals, and +lie down to slumber at night. I longed for a place in which I could feel +that I was _localized_, around which domestic associations might +gradually entwine themselves, and where I might sing in the twilight the +songs of my childhood.[2] + +The fifth day of my sojourn on the iceberg was the great day of +discovery. I determined, that morning, that I would now make a thorough +survey of the whole island. I knew that it would be rough work, and +somewhat dangerous; for, in some places, there were cavities fifty feet +deep, and I should have to climb over some very steep ice, where it was +as smooth as glass. Before starting, I pulled several nails out of the +hoops that lay around, and drove them into the soles of my boots; and I +was fortunate enough to find a good stout stick, into the end of which I +also fastened one of the nails. Filling my pockets with crackers, and +slinging a slice of cooked bear's meat over my shoulder, I started off, +having been careful first to pile up several loose blocks of ice in the +form of a pillar, so that I might be able to find the place again. I +then struck--as it afterwards turned out most fortunately--for that side +of the berg where the surface shelved off gradually to the water. About +eleven o'clock, I found myself standing on quite a lofty peak of ice; +and, looking down, my eyes fell upon a sight that almost took away my +breath. Spread out before me on a level plain, there lay a large black +patch, which looked as though it must be earth; and on the farther side, +just where the berg began to slope towards the sea, I thought that I +saw something that looked like a building! Could it be that the island +was inhabited? Running, sliding, slipping down, as fast as I could go, +in a short time I found that I was not mistaken in supposing that it +was earth: for there lay, stretched out before me, an acre or so of +ground, almost as smooth and level as a garden; and, at the farther +end of the plot, there stood,--not an ordinary house, not a barn, not +an Esquimaux hut, not a country store, not a railroad depot, not a +meeting-house,--but, what do you imagine? I will tell you as soon as I +get there. Rushing like mad across the ground,--oh, how pleasant it was +to feel the soft soil under my cold feet!--I came to what looked like a +dismasted ship, embedded clear up to the gunwale[3] in the ice. There +lay the whole deck of a three-masted vessel, unbroken and undisturbed; +but, as I soon ascertained, there was no hull underneath, for the deck +had evidently been broken off from the lower parts of the ship, and +thrown up the smooth, inclined plane of ice to the spot where I found +it, and then been frozen in there. What a discovery this was! I did not +know how to contain or how to express my delight; and, before beginning +to explore the premises, the very first thing that I did was to rush up +to the bell, that hung near the bows, and ring it with all my might. You +can't tell how strange it sounded, up there in that solitary, silent, +arctic sea, to hear the loud clang of the old bell sounding out over the +waters, as I tugged and tugged away at the rope. It would have done the +hearts of "Hooper & Son, Boston, Mass.,"--whose name I saw printed on +it,--it would have done the whole firm good, to have heard it. After I +had ceased ringing, and slowly tolled the bell for a few minutes, so +that I might make it seem as if I were going to meeting in Roxbury, I +sat down on the capstan to think matters over. Nothing had happened yet +that excited me like this. Jumping through the earth, and then getting +stuck in the centre; being blown through the axis, and lighting on an +iceberg at the north pole, and all that sort of thing,--I looked back +upon rather as a matter of course. But to find myself sitting here on +the deck of a three-master, with the cabins and offices at the stern all +in good order, and the caboose-house in the centre, with the little +funnel sticking out of the top, and a big boat close by it, covered with +canvas, and a huge anchor at the bows, and spare rigging and spare masts +lying all along the sides, and a _real bell_ to ring,--this was a +little too much, even for John Whopper. + +What was I to find in the cabins, and the offices, and the pantries, and +the caboose-house? The caboose-house reminded me that I was getting +hungry, and that it was near dinner-time. I had expected to make my meal +of dry crackers and cold bear-meat; but it occurred to me, that, on such +an occasion as the present, a luxurious repast would be more +appropriate, as well as more agreeable, and that very possibly I might +find in the caboose-house the materials for gratifying my appetite. I +did not as yet feel quite prepared to visit the cabins at the stern, for +I knew that I must become very much excited at what would be found +there, and a good dinner would serve to strengthen my nerves, and set me +up. I went, therefore, at once to the caboose, and slid back the door, +which required considerable effort; and, sure enough, there was every +thing at hand that I expected, and a great deal more. The accident which +lifted the deck from the hull of the ship must have happened about the +middle of the forenoon; for there was the fire all ready to be lighted +in the cooking-stove,--shavings, kindlings, and coal in place; and there +lay the cooking utensils quite convenient. This was not all; the +materials for the dinner had been brought up,--a great deal more than I +could consume in a week. Immediately I took a match from my +pocket,--there was a box of matches hanging on the wall, but I did not +feel sure that they would be in working order,--and lighted the fire. +The next thing that I did was to go and select a lump of clean, clear +ice, to be melted in the kettle, that I might be ready to wash up my +dishes properly after dinner. I tell you that I gave a big shout when I +saw the smoke curling out of the funnel. I now proceeded, very +deliberately, to select from the cans and bottles and jars, that were +piled up in the corner, the various items of which I would make my +dinner. The first thing that I settled upon was a dish of "_Parker's +ox-tail soup_," which I remembered to have eaten some time ago at the +house of a benevolent gentleman in Washington Street, when he gave the +newsboys a lunch. My second course should consist of a potted +partridge, with tomato sauce, desiccated turnips (I didn't know what +_desiccated_ meant, but I took it for granted that it was all right), +and one or two of Lewis's pickles. I would then close with part of a jar +of preserved peaches. I did not need to do much cooking in getting up +this dinner; but I had hot soup, hot tomatoes, and warm turnips, which +got a little smoked, and didn't taste very good,--perhaps, however, that +was because it was desiccated. I enjoyed the dinner tremendously; and +after it was over, and my dishes were all washed and put away, my eye +lighted upon a box, half full of cigars, on the shelf. My first thought +was, "Now I will have a cigar, as the gentlemen do that you see at the +steps of the Tremont House in the afternoon, and that will make it seem +more like home." But, upon second thought, it occurred to me that this +would probably make me so sick for the remainder of the day, that I +should be unable to do any thing, and that I couldn't spare the time. So +I decided not to smoke until I had leisure enough to be ill for a while. + +And now, with a throbbing heart, I turned my steps towards the +cabin-door, and entered the gangway. There were two or three doors on +the sides of the narrow passage, which I did not care to open at +present; and so I passed on to the central door that led into the main +room. I had feared that I might be startled by the sight of dead bodies +or skeletons here; but there was nothing repulsive to be seen, nothing +that looked like disorder or confusion. There stood the centre-table, +with a few books and pamphlets lying on it, and two or three chairs +drawn around, and a large lamp suspended above. There was the grate, +containing a few half-consumed embers; there was the compass, swinging +between the stern-windows. A nice Brussels carpet was under my feet; and +there were three doors on either side of the cabin, opening into the +staterooms. The vessel appeared to have been a first-class merchantman, +fitted to carry half a dozen passengers; and how such a vessel as this +ever found its way into these northern seas was a mystery. I just +glanced for a moment into these rooms, and saw there trunks and valises, +and all the usual articles of the toilet, mirrors, beds, and bedding, +and all other things expected in a respectable apartment. Then I visited +the captain's room and the mate's; the pantry, store-room, etc.; and all +the supplies and utensils seemed to be abundant and of the best quality. +I tried to find the log-book, but that was missing; and from this I +inferred that the captain had made his escape in safety, taking it with +him. This thought gave me pleasure. + +No danger now of my suffering for want of the comforts or luxuries of +life; I could dress elegantly, sleep magnificently, and fare +sumptuously. I selected the captain's room for my private apartment; and +having no luggage to transport, it required but little time for me to +take possession. + +The sun had now sunk as near the horizon as it ever did in that region +during the month of July, and what we called evening at home drew near. +I prepared my cup of tea in the cabin, and spread my supper on the +centre-table; then went out to take a little stroll on the deck. I +closed the door of the caboose-house, and, for the sake of appearances, +fastened it; then went up to the bell, and struck the hour, just to +gratify a sentimental feeling that I had. Then I retired to the cabin +for the night; and in order to make it seem snug and cosey, I dropped +the curtains over the windows, and lighted the hanging lamp. Kindling a +fire in the grate, I sat down at the table and tried to read. But +situated as I was, I found it impossible to fix my mind upon the book; +and so I threw myself down upon the lounge to think over what had +happened, and speculate as to the probabilities of the future. It may +seem strange to some persons; but, with all my comforts about me, I felt +more homesick than I did when I was lying on the ice in my bearskin, or +when I was poking about in the bowels of the earth, trying to see how I +could get out. There was nothing to occupy my body; and that, I suppose, +was one reason why my mind worked as it did. At about ten o'clock, I +went to bed, and, after tossing about uneasily for an hour or two, +managed to fall asleep. + +When I awoke in the morning, it took me some time to remember where I +was. I thought, at first, that I was at home, and could hear the birds +singing by the window; and I believe that I called out "Bob!" once or +twice before I was fairly roused. But soon the real state of the case +came back to me; and, going into the staterooms, I hunted round until I +found a suit of good clean clothes that would fit me, and dressed myself +for the day. The clothes that I had worn were now so dirty and torn that +I was very glad to get rid of them. After breakfasting heartily,--and an +excellent cup of hot coffee I had that morning,--I began to think what I +should do with myself during the day. I had no longer to go tramping +about in search of food; and so I thought that I would take a little +stroll over my farm,--as I called the acre of loam that lay by the side +of my abode,--and see how the crops were looking. I must confess that +the vegetation was not much advanced; and yet I could see, here and +there, little green shoots springing out of the earth, indicating that +the summer sun was beginning to have its effect upon the soil. It then +occurred to me how pleasant it would be to look out upon a greensward in +that icy spot; and remembering to have seen in the store-room a canvas +bag marked "grass-seed," and a rake standing there, I went for them, and +passed the forenoon in agricultural pursuits. In a few hours, I had +quite a patch of ground nicely raked over, and sown for grass. In less +than a fortnight, it had sprouted beautifully, and I began to be quite +proud of my arctic lawn. + +All the time, however, I was wondering how I should find my way back to +the abodes of man, and how soon I might expect to start for home. I had +presumed, that, as the season advanced, I should begin to drift +southward; and I hoped, that, before the winter closed in again, I might +reach those parts of the sea which are frequented by vessels, and so +find rescue. But whether I was moving or not, it was impossible as yet +to tell, as there was no fixed object in sight by which a movement could +be measured. I felt very certain that the iceberg was not grounded, +because there would be, occasionally, a quivering of the whole mass, +which showed that it was floating on the water. It was also growing +warmer and warmer every day, which was a favorable symptom. If I had +known how to use the sextant or quadrant, I could have settled the +matter at once. + +Before long, I was satisfied, from the change in the appearance of the +ocean and of the sun, that I was indeed moving rapidly away from the +north pole; and the fact that I was afloat was settled conclusively by a +very alarming circumstance. I had observed for a day or two, that the +hanging-lamp did not appear to be entirely perpendicular; and, in +walking the deck, I had the sensation that I was not treading on a +perfectly level surface. Searching the mate's room, I found a +spirit-level, and laid it on the floor. There was no doubt of the fact: +the berg was undoubtedly tilting on one side. I then remembered, that, +not unfrequently, these mountains of ice rolled over, and made a +complete somerset. This was now, sooner or later, going to happen. What +could I do? I found that the ice, on the side that was beginning to +incline towards the sea, was much higher than elsewhere, and that this +superior weight was gradually destroying the equilibrium of the berg. I +also observed, that, between this elevation and the more level region, +there was a narrow, deep fissure, extending almost entirely across the +line of the lofty projection of ice. + +A great thought now flashed upon me. I remembered to have seen on the +deck, the day after my arrival, two or three casks, labelled "Dangerous! +Handle very carefully!! Nitro-glycerine!!!" These casks I at once +removed to a safe distance, marking with an upright stick the place +where they were deposited. Nitro-glycerine!--I said to myself. It was +that that blew up the "The European" at Panama. I remember it because I +sold three hundred and nine papers by crying "Great Explosion." A +newsboy knows something. And nitro-glycerine will go off if you hit it +hard enough. + +In the captain's room, there were several large, metallic flasks, made +very broad and flat, as I suppose for the purpose of better stowage in +his room. What they had formerly contained, I could only judge by the +smell; but they were empty now. This, then, was the experiment that I +would try,--filling these flasks with nitro-glycerine, I would lower +them into a crevice in the ice. Then, if I could, I must make a block +of ice fall on them. + +In two or three hours, my preparations were concluded. The flasks were +just large enough to fit snugly in the chasm. Above them, the precipice +hung over a little. Half-hidden by the bulwarks of the ship, I fired +three bullets from the captain's gun into the projecting mass. Nothing +fell. I loaded her again,--fired again, and a great block of ice keeled +over and slid down. As fast did I leap down stairs into the cabin, as if +I should be safe there. As I landed, I felt the great iceberg tremble; +then came a sharp, quick, terrible crash, as if forty thunders had +broken all together right over my head, and the great hill of ice sank +grandly and slowly into the ocean below. For a minute or two, I could +hear the roar of the waters as they opened to receive the huge mass, and +the berg rocked as if in a great storm; then all was still again. I +rushed back to my cabin, laid the spirit-level on the floor, and the +little bubble stopped right in the middle of the tube. The danger was +over. + +Another week passed; and there was no longer any room to doubt that I +_was_ moving, and in the right direction. At the pole, there was never a +breath of wind; but now it blew quite strong. The compass began to show +signs of vitality; and, at midnight, I could see some of the brightest +of the stars. The sun dropped nearer and nearer the horizon every +evening, and it was growing uncomfortably warm at mid-day. As I was now +getting some information from the sun as to the points of the compass, +I set up a vane on the deck, in order to find out, from day to day, the +direction of the wind. This put another idea into my head. Couldn't I do +something to help the old berg along? Why couldn't the spare masts and +sails, that lay along the sides of the deck, be put to some use? The +foremast of the ship was broken off about fifteen feet from the level of +the deck, and I went to work to splice on a jury-mast. It was slow and +pretty hard work. I had to arrange the blocks and tackles in the most +scientific manner, in order to lift the heavy timber to its place; and +it required a great deal of strength to bring the ropes around the fore +and jury-mast, so as to bind them securely together. I then managed to +rig a yard to the mast, and, in the course of another day, had quite a +respectable sail set. The day after, I got up a jib, and then crowned +the whole by hoisting the American flag to the top of the mast. I did +not keep this flying all the time, but reserved it for great occasions. + +Here then, was a novel sight,--a great iceberg _under sail_, and +protected by the stars and stripes. Whether it helped us along or not, I +am unable to say: but it was a satisfaction for me to feel that I had +done what I could; and it gave me pleasure to go off a little distance, +and look at the extraordinary spectacle. I could not help laughing to +think what the old salts would say, when I got down amongst the whalers +and explorers, at the sight of _an iceberg under sail_! + +I have nothing more to tell of my adventures in the arctic seas. About +the middle of September, I had reached the more frequented parts of the +ocean, and every day was on the lookout for some friendly barque, to +liberate me from my dreary solitude. For months I had not heard the +sound of a human voice, and I began to long for the society of my +fellow-men. Every morning I posted myself, with a spy-glass, on the +highest peak of the berg, searching the horizon for a sail. My situation +on the deck was becoming every hour more and more precarious. The +melting of the ice underneath had already caused the stern to incline +very decidedly towards the inclined plane that led down to the ocean; +and I felt that the slightest jar might, at any time, precipitate the +whole concern, myself included, into the sea. I suppose, indeed, that +nothing but the counteracting influence of the sails, which filled in +the opposite direction, had prevented this catastrophe. + +At last, after many a long and weary watch, I descried, in the far-off +distance, a sail; but the vessel moved off towards the horizon, and was +soon lost to sight. It was a bitter disappointment; and still I thought +that wherever _one_ ship was sailing, others would be likely to come in +sight before long. I kept the flag flying now all the time, and hardly +ventured to sleep at all, lest some vessel might pass by unnoticed. On +the twenty-fifth of September, as I woke from a short and broken +slumber, I descried, not more than two miles off, a ship, heading +directly for the berg. As soon as she was near enough for the signal to +be observed, I lowered and hoisted my flag five or six times in quick +succession; and, to my joy, I saw the signal answered. It was all right +now: the only question to be solved was, as to the manner in which I +would get on board the vessel. I anticipated that they would not venture +to bring the ship alongside of the berg, but would probably put out a +long-boat for my rescue. As soon as that came within hailing distance, I +would establish communication with the crew; and, between us all, I did +not doubt but some way would be found for me to escape. In a short +time, as I had foreseen, the ship lay to; and the boat came off, and was +rowed to the foot of the inclined plane. I never saw a more astonished +set of men in my life. They were staring at me and my extraordinary +craft, as if their eyes would start from the sockets; and the coxswain +rose and shouted,-- + +"Ahoy, up there! who are you?" + +"John Whopper," I replied, "eldest son of the Widow Whopper, now +residing in Roxbury, Mass., U. S. of America." + +"Gracious me!" cried one of the men, "I know Widow Whopper." + +"I hope you left her well?" + +"Much as usual," the sailor replied. + +I was very glad to hear it. + +"Where are you from?" shouted the coxswain again; "and where did you +get your rigging?" + +"I will tell you when I get aboard." + +"Come aboard, then." + +"I don't exactly see how to manage it." + +"Come down the plane, and we will catch you." + +It was too steep and slippery for me to do that; but, on the instant, +another bright thought arose. "Pull off a hundred feet or so," I cried, +"and I will be along." + +As soon as I saw that they had rowed to a safe distance, I went to the +mast, and suddenly let the sail go. In an instant, I felt the deck +quiver; and it began to move, very slowly at first, and then with a +tremendous rush, right down the inclined plane. I grasped a rope with +all my might, and steadied myself for the shock that must come when my +craft plunged into the sea. But there was no shock at all; gently as a +ship slides on her cradle, when launched into the water, the old deck +glided off upon the waves, and in five minutes I found myself safely on +board the long-boat. No sooner, however, had I left the strange craft, +than it began to sink slowly into the depths; and the last thing that I +saw was the American flag floating on the bosom of the deep. + +What was said to me when I reached the ship, and what I said, I have not +time to relate; only I didn't tell every thing. + +The vessel proved to be a whaler, bound for New Bedford; where I +arrived in good condition, and took the cars for Roxbury, via the Boston +and Providence Road, _passing through Canton_. + +I found all well at home, and very much relieved by my arrival. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] It will probably occur to the reader, that some one of Johnny's +adult friends has touched up the style a little along here. J. W. says +that this is true. + +[2] John informs the editor that he never wrote a word of the last +lines, and that he thinks it about time for him to take the bellows +again. + +[3] Pronounced _gunnell_: "The uppermost bend which finishes the upper +works of the hull, and from which the upper guns, if the vessel carry +any, are pointed." + + + + + THE END. + + + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | Transcriber's note:-- | + | | + | Italics are represented in this text version by underscores. | + | | + | | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Whopper, by Thomas March Clark + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN WHOPPER *** + +***** This file should be named 30463.txt or 30463.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/4/6/30463/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Whopper + The Newsboy + +Author: Thomas March Clark + +Release Date: November 13, 2009 [EBook #30463] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN WHOPPER *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 287px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="287" height="400" alt="" title="cover" /> +<br /><br /><br /></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 285px;"> +<img src="images/i_002.png" width="285" height="400" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">JOHN WHOPPER IN CHINA, By the <i>Air-Line</i> Route.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 325px;"> +<img src="images/i_003.png" width="325" height="400" alt="." title="" /> +<span class="caption">JOHN WHOPPER AT THE NORTH POLE.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/> + + +<h1>JOHN WHOPPER<br /></h1> + +<h2>THE NEWSBOY.</h2><br /> + +<h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.</h4><br /><br /> + +<h3>BOSTON:<br /><br /> +ROBERTS BROTHERS.<br /></h3> +<h4>1871.<br /><br /><br /></h4> + + + + + +<h5>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by<br /><br /> + +ROBERTS BROTHERS,<br /><br /> + +In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.<br /></h5> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h5>Stereotyped and Printed by<br /> +<span class="smcap">Alfred Mudge & Son</span>,<br /> +Boston, Mass.<br /></h5> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA.</h3> + + +<p>Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I +started as usual very early to distribute my papers. I had a large +bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut +across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica +Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time. I do not care to tell +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, +barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve.</p> + +<p>After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had +better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to +clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, +that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to +put my feet. All at once I lost my balance, and felt that I was sliding +down the side of a smooth, steep rock; while underneath, to my horror, I +saw what looked like a circular cave, or well, some five or six feet in +diameter. I tried to grasp the rock with my hands, and ground my heels +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>as hard as I could against the surface, but it was of no use; down I +slipped, faster and faster, until at last I plunged, feet foremost, into +the dark hole below. For a moment I held my breath, expecting to be +dashed to pieces; and oh, how many things I thought of in that short +minute! It seemed as if every thing that I had ever done came back to +me, especially all the <i>bad</i> things; and how I wished then that I had +lived a better life! I thought, too, of my poor mother and my little +brother and sister at home, and how they would wait breakfast for me +that morning; and how they would keep on waiting and waiting, hour after +hour and day after day; and how the neighbors would all turn out and +search for me; and how I should never be found, and nobody would ever +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>know what had become of me. And then I wondered whether Mr. Simpson, +who employed me to distribute the papers, would suppose that I had run +away somewhere, to sell them on my own account; and so I went on +thinking and wondering, until it seemed as if there was no end to the +time. And yet I didn't strike the bottom of the cave, but just went on +falling and falling, faster and faster, in the darkness, and sometimes +just grazing the sides, and still not so as to hurt me much. My great +trouble was to breathe; when it occurred to me to lay the sleeve of my +coat across my mouth: and then I found that I could breathe through the +cloth with tolerable ease. After a while, I recovered my senses; and +though I continued to fall on still faster and faster, I experienced no +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>great inconvenience. How long this continued, I cannot tell; it +appeared to be an age; and I must have been falling for several hours, +when I began to feel as though I was not sinking as fast as I had been; +and after a while, it seemed as if I were rising up, rather than +tumbling down. As I was now able to breathe much more freely than I had +done, I began to think calmly about my condition; and then the thought +flashed across my mind, that perhaps I had passed the centre of the +earth, and was gradually rising to the surface on the other side. This +gave me hope; and when I found that I continued to move slower and +slower, I tried to collect my faculties, so that I might know just what +it would be best to do, if I should be so fortunate as to reach the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>other end of the hole into which I had tumbled. At last, looking down, +I saw a little speck of light, like a very faint star; and then, I tell +you, my heart bounded with joy. At this moment it suddenly occurred to +me that it would not do to come out of the hole <i>feet foremost</i>; and, by +a tremendous effort, I managed to turn a complete summersault,—what the +boys always called a <i>somerset</i>,—which, of course, brought me into the +right position. How thankful I felt that I had been taught to practise +gymnastic exercises at the school in Roxbury! In my present attitude I +couldn't see the bright spot any longer: but, before long, I perceived +that it was growing lighter around me; and I was confident that the time +of my release drew near. I had determined exactly what I would do when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +I reached the surface of the earth again; and, accordingly, on the +instant that my head came out of the hole, I grasped the edge with all +my might, and, by another terrible effort, swung myself up into the air, +and leaped upon the ground.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to describe the strange thrill that passed over me when +I thus found myself standing on what I knew must be the eastern side of +the globe. As soon as I had fairly recovered the use of my reason, I +began to speculate as to the region of the country into which I emerged. +If I had come directly through the centre of the earth, I knew, of +course, just where I ought to be; but this hardly seemed possible, +considering how short a time it had required for my journey. It then +occurred to me that I was really<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> unable to form any accurate idea of +the number of hours that had elapsed since I left the soil of +Massachusetts; for, before I had fallen a hundred feet, a whole age +appeared to have passed. I knew that it was about six o'clock in the +morning when I started; and, on looking at my watch, I found that it had +stopped at 6.45, owing, as I afterwards ascertained, to the influence of +magnetic currents upon the hair-spring.</p> + +<p>The country around was in a high state of cultivation, except in the +immediate vicinity of the spot where I stood. This was rough and barren, +and so situated that the small cavity in the earth from which I had just +been released, would be very likely to escape observation. Thinking that +it might be important for me to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> be able hereafter to identify the +locality, I took a careful observation of its general bearings, and +twisted together a few of the twigs that grew near the hole, but in such +a manner as would not be likely to arrest attention.</p> + +<p>Striking off now at random, I soon found myself in a low, marshy region, +covered with a species of grain unlike any thing I had ever seen before, +but which I concluded must be rice; and then the thought came to me, +that very probably I was in China. After walking for an hour or two, I +reached a rising ground, and saw in the distance an immense city on the +water's edge; which from its position, and resemblance to certain +pictures that I had once seen in Boston, I believed to be Canton. +Refreshing myself with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> some fruit that grew by the wayside, I started +off in haste, in order, if possible, to reach the city before nightfall. +Just as the sun was setting, I entered what appeared to be one of the +main streets; when, tired and hungry and footsore, I began to think +seriously what I should do to procure food and lodging. Here I was,—a +poor boy in a strange land, unable to address a word to the people +around me, and with only a few cents and two or three bits of paper +currency in my pocket, that could be of no value in that country. <i>What +was I to do?</i> Just then I came to a large and respectable-looking +building; and over the door there was this sign, in good plain +characters:—</p> + +<center>"<span class="smcap">English and American Coffee-House.</span>"</center><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tears of joy filled my eyes. In an instant, I said to myself, "Your +fortune is made, old fellow! Here you have thirty or forty Boston +newspapers, not twenty-four hours old, strapped around your neck; and I +rather think they will be in some demand in Canton."</p> + +<p>With a light heart I now entered the office of the hotel, and threw down +my bundle, with a good, black-leather covering around the papers, so +that it looked like an ordinary piece of luggage, which gave me the +appearance of a regular traveller; then called for a room, and ordered +supper. It was true that I had very little money in my possession,—not +enough, certainly, to pay my bill at the hotel; but no questions were +asked, and I gave myself little concern as to the future.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> I had a +first-rate appetite, and ate voraciously.</p> + +<p>After supper was over, I took my bundle in my hand, and strolled +leisurely into a pleasant and spacious room, where a number of +gentlemen—English and American—were sitting around in groups, some +chatting together, and others reading the London and New York and Boston +papers. Among them I recognized the face of a merchant whom I had seen +several times in State Street; and slinging the strap over my shoulder +in a careless, every-day sort of tone, just as any newsboy would have +done at home, I went up to him and said, "Have the morning papers, +Mister?—'morning papers?'—'Advertiser,' 'Journal,' 'Post,' 'Herald,' +last edition,—published this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> morning, <i>only five dollars</i>!" Everybody +in the room looked up, for I managed, as newsboys generally do, to speak +loud enough to drown every other sound; but no one uttered a word. It +was evident that they thought I was crazy, or something worse; and so I +just cried out again, "Have the morning paper, sir?" at the same time +thrusting a copy of "The Advertiser" into his hand. He looked like an +"Advertiser" kind of man,—well dressed and highly respectable.</p> + +<p>Involuntarily his eye glanced at the date,—"Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1867"; +and then, in an excited, quivering tone, he said, "Let me look at your +other papers." There was a long table in the centre of the room, which I +approached; and, slowly unfolding my bundle, I laid a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> of the papers +wide open in front of the gentlemen, who crowded around in the highest +state of excitement. Still there was dead silence; when one of them +suddenly burst out with the exclamation, "Good heavens! Here is a notice +of the arrival of 'The Golconda' at New York, with a full account of the +cargo, and every thing else correct. Why, this must be genuine!"</p> + +<p>One after another followed with a cry of surprise at some news which +they had found; until, in a few minutes, every gentleman in the room was +absorbed in reading the papers, appearing to have entirely forgotten all +about me, and not caring to ask how it was that I had brought them to +China in less than twenty-four hours. After I had stood there whistling +carelessly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> as long as I thought worth while, I spoke up in a loud +voice, and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to be enjoying the news +pretty well. I hope you don't mean to forget to pay for the +papers,—<i>only five dollars a copy</i>!"</p> + +<p>At this speech every one of them looked at me with a strange expression, +as if they hardly knew whether I was a real human boy or something else; +when the Boston gentleman said, "How on earth did you get these papers +here?" To which I answered very carelessly, "I didn't get them here <i>on</i> +earth."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you what I mean, and answer your questions, after you have +paid me <i>five dollars each; and cheap at that, considering</i>."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Indeed it is, for me at least," said one of the gentlemen. "What I have +learned from this paper is worth to me, in a business way, thousands of +dollars"; and with that he came forward and put a hundred into my hand, +in the good, solid form of gold-pieces. His example had its effect upon +the others. Instead of the two hundred which I had hoped to receive for +my forty newspapers, I was actually in possession of not less +than—well, I don't care to tell exactly how much, on account of the +income-tax.</p> + +<p>"Come, now," said the gentlemen, almost in one breath, "tell us how +these papers came to China."</p> + +<p>"I brought them myself."</p> + +<p>"When did you leave America?"</p> + +<p>"The morning when these papers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> printed: but how long ago that was, +I really don't know, as my watch stopped while I was on my voyage; only +I thought it was just as well to call out, as I always used to do at +home, 'Morning paper!' although, perhaps, for all I can tell, they may +be two or perhaps three days old; anyhow, I guess you find them a good +deal fresher than the rest you have got on hand."</p> + +<p>Having delivered myself of this somewhat protracted speech, I began +moving towards the door with the air of one who had said every thing +that could reasonably be expected, in reply to the curious inquiries of +my liberal patrons, when the Boston merchant motioned for me to stop, +saying with some severity, "Did you not promise that you would inform +the com<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>pany how these papers came from America to China in such an +incredibly short period of time, whenever you should have received your +pay for the same?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; and I just told you that I brought them over—not exactly +<i>over</i>—but—in short, I brought them here."</p> + +<p>"You say, 'not exactly <i>over</i>'; do you mean by that phrase to be +understood to say that you did not come over land?"</p> + +<p>"Your honor has hit my meaning precisely."</p> + +<p>"You don't pretend to say that you came by water?"</p> + +<p>"Far from it, sir."</p> + +<p>"How then, <i>under the heavens</i>, did you come?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't come under the heavens at all."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't believe," said the irritated gentleman, turning to his +companions, "that the fellow came at all; he must be lying."</p> + +<p>All the answer that he received was the rustling of forty newspapers, +bearing the imprint, "February 16, 1867, Boston." There was no getting +over this.</p> + +<p>After a pause of several minutes, during which a bright idea entered my +mind, I came forward into the circle, and said, "Well, gentlemen, I want +to see if I can make a good bargain with you; and when that is settled, +I will tell you how I came over—I mean, I will tell you how I got here; +that is, I will tell you <i>the route</i> that I took. If I can arrange for +the delivery in Canton of the New York and Boston daily papers, within +thirty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>-six hours of the time when they are issued in those cities, will +you all promise to give me your generous patronage?"</p> + +<p>"Of course we will," they cried all together.</p> + +<p>"Very well; then I pledge myself to appear again in this place one week +from this day, ready to carry out my part of the bargain. And now, in +bidding you good-night, allow me to inform you that I came from America +to China by the <i>air-line</i>."</p> + +<p>With this I retired at once to my room, and was soon sleeping soundly.</p> + +<p>I knew that I should be watched so closely the next day as to make it +impossible for me to escape without detection; and accordingly I got up +an hour or two before daylight; and, having laid upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> the table in my +room an amount of money which I supposed would be considered a fair +compensation for my supper and lodging, I tied the sheets together, and +lowered myself down into the then silent and deserted street. It was not +long before I found myself once more in the open country; and looking +carefully for the twisted twigs that I had tied together the afternoon +before, I soon discovered the chasm through which I had made my +remarkable trip to the eastern hemisphere. Taking the precaution to tie +a handkerchief over my mouth in order that I might economize my breath, +I summoned all my courage, and leaped into the hole. My experiences were +precisely the same as they had been in the previous journey; and in +course of a few hours, I found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> myself standing once more in the +familiar outskirts of Roxbury, and gazing tenderly upon the solemn dome +of Boston State House. As fast as my legs would take me, I rushed to my +poor mother's humble abode, longing to relieve the bitter agony to which +I knew she and my brother and sister must have been subjected during my +absence. It is not worth while for me to describe at length the scene +that ensued when I stood once more in the family circle, with my +mother's arms around my neck, and the young folks bellowing with joy. To +the frantic inquiries that were showered upon me as to what had +happened,—where I had been,—had I had any thing to eat? I coolly +replied that I had not had much to eat; and, if they would give me a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +good, substantial supper, I would endeavor to relieve their minds.</p> + +<p>"Supper, indeed!" cried my good mother; "why, it's just after sunrise! +You haven't lost your senses, I hope."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon; but it was about sunrise hours and hours ago, when +I—when I"—and here I faltered, not caring just then to let the whole +family into my secret.</p> + +<p>"When you what?" said my mother, looking very anxious.</p> + +<p>"Why, when I left Canton," I now answered, very promptly.</p> + +<p>"You don't say that you have been to Canton?" she replied, but without +any such show of astonishment as might have been expected.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have, mother. It occurred to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> me that I could sell my papers to +better advantage there than I could about here; and, indeed, I did, as +you may see." Whereupon I laid in her good old hand such a sum of money +as she had not clasped for many a day.</p> + +<p>"Did you get all this money by selling papers in Canton?"</p> + +<p>"I did, and a great deal more; which I am going to deposit by and by in +the Savings Bank to your credit."</p> + +<p>"There must be an awful demand for papers in Canton."</p> + +<p>"There is, mother; and they pay such high prices there, that I am +thinking of setting up a news establishment in the place."</p> + +<p>"And did you <i>walk</i> all the way to Canton day before yesterday, my +boy?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then it was day before yesterday morning when I left home? I thought it +was longer ago than that."</p> + +<p>"Longer ago! Oh, dear, dear! you are not out of your head, my son?"</p> + +<p>"My good mother, I am as sound as you are. Only you know that sometimes, +when we are very much occupied, the time passes quickly; and I have been +quite busy since I left you."</p> + +<p>"And did you say that you walked to Canton?"</p> + +<p>"No, mother, I didn't walk a step."</p> + +<p>"Then you took the Providence cars?"</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, it was a kind of a providence car."</p> + +<p>[John's statement at once relieved the old lady's mind; but those of our +readers who are not intimately acquainted with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> the geography of +Massachusetts, may be somewhat puzzled at this. For the information of +foreigners and uneducated people in general, we must mention that there +is a thriving village on the Boston and Providence railroad, about ten +miles from Roxbury, which rejoices in the name of Canton.</p> + +<p>It may here be observed, that the young man's mind had got into a kind +of chronological muddle, and the days and nights were mixed up together +in the most miscellaneous manner. We, who are competent to solve any +ordinary problem, furnish our young readers with this explanation. John +left our American soil on Tuesday morning, at or about six o'clock. He +is twelve hours—there or thereabouts—passing through the earth.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> This +brings him to China also in the morning, as every thing is topsy-turvy +on the other side of the globe. His walk to Canton fills up most of the +day,—<i>Tuesday night here</i>. He sleeps in Canton one night. <i>Wednesday +here</i>; leaves Canton, <i>via</i> Air-Line, the next morning,—<i>Wednesday +night here</i>; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent +from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling <i>via</i> +Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country +in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British +and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and +consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his +singular tale of adventure, we remarked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> that he seemed to have had a +very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole +forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which +repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was +filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body. +We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet +again, and we let him speak for himself.]</p> + +<p>"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,—a bright +fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,—I told him in strict confidence +the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for +the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation.</p> + +<p>"I am now going," said I, "to Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> Simpson's office, and shall pay him +handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with +him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in +advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock +precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up +and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the +centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,—always being +very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet +above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise +just four feet <i>above</i> the surface on the other side, and I shall be +able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on +the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> which ought +to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time +that you will be obliged to give to the work.</p> + +<p>"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On +every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an +hour; and between six and half-past six o'clock, be on the careful +lookout for a bundle <i>which I shall send to you</i> from the other side. +This will contain my remittance for the week, which I wish you to +deposit to mother's credit in three places, the names of which I give +you on paper. She can then draw from time to time such sums as she may +need.</p> + +<p>"I shall remain at home for a few days and arrange to be in China next +Monday<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> evening. On Tuesday morning you will forward the bundle of +papers."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tell mother and sister all about this?" said Bob.</p> + +<p>"No: it would only worry them. I shall merely say that I have a great +opening for making money, and shall be obliged to be absent from home +for several months."</p> + +<p>"I think," said Bob, chuckling,—Bob labored under the delusion that he +was a wag,—"that it <i>is</i> a great opening, or rather, I might say, a +<i>lengthy</i> opening."</p> + +<p>Every thing was duly arranged according to the programme; and, on the +following Monday, I bade adieu for a while to the sweet light of day,—I +don't mean that I said exactly these words as I stood on the edge of the +hole—but that is the way in which it would be expressed in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +book,—and jumped boldly into the dark abyss. In due time I arrived +safely in China, and took lodgings in a small country inn about two +miles off, as I did not care to show myself at the Canton Coffee-House +until I had the papers in my possession.</p> + +<p>It was with a somewhat anxious heart that I went to my Air-Line Station, +as I had taken a fancy to call it, on Tuesday evening.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN GOT INTO TROUBLE IN CHINA.</h3> + + +<p>It was Tuesday evening in good old Massachusetts, but not far from the +break of day in China. In order that I might be more sure to catch the +bundle of papers on its arrival, I had woven a net-work with my strong +twine, and securely fastened it to a stout wooden hoop. This I then +attached to a pole about six feet in length, and stood ready to swing +the net under the package as soon as it came within reach. The hour at +which I had calculated that the bundle ought to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> come in sight, provided +Bob had been prompt to the time that I had prescribed, had now passed, +and I began to feel excited and uneasy. "What if Bob had forgotten to +hold the package high enough from the surface when he dropped it, and so +the momentum had not proved sufficient to drive it <i>clear through</i> the +hole? What if it had struck against the sides of the cavity, and so the +friction had stopped it on the way? What if the velocity with which it +must have fallen during the first few thousand miles had torn the +package in pieces, and the papers had been left floating about in the +centre of the earth? What if Bob had been taken ill?"—just at this +moment my fears and speculations were arrested by the sight of a small +white object, looking like a flake of snow,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> away down the hole, +hundreds of feet away, as it seemed to me. My heart almost ceased to +beat; the white object was coming nearer and nearer, and looking larger +and larger every second. But it is moving slower and slower all the +time, as if it was nearly tired out! Perhaps it will not come <i>quite</i> +within reach after all? What an awful disappointment that would be! No! +it doesn't quite stop—<i>up</i> it comes—ten feet more and I will have it; +five feet more—hurra! underneath goes the stout net, and the precious +bundle is clasped safely in my arms.</p> + +<p>I was so exhausted by anxiety and excitement, that I had to sit down for +a while, that I might recover my strength. I really do not think that I +was half so much overcome when I first came out of the hole myself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>And now for the city, to keep my appointment with the gentlemen at the +Coffee-House. I had hired a pony to carry me to Canton, and had fastened +it to a tree near by; and very soon I was galloping off like lightning. +About ten o'clock, I reached the hotel; and, after stopping for a glass +of water at the office to clear my throat, I entered the room where I +knew my patrons would be assembled, and threw my bundle down upon the +table.</p> + +<p>Every man there started to his feet; but such was their surprise at my +appearance,—for not a soul amongst them ever dreamed that I would keep +my appointment,—that for one or two minutes, as before, not a word was +spoken. While they all stood around staring at me as if I had just +dropped from the clouds, I pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>ceeded very leisurely to untie the +strings of the package; when, with a simultaneous movement, my eager +customers rushed towards the table, reaching out their hands frantically +for the papers.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said I, in a clear, collected voice, "before proceeding to +distribute the mail, allow me to offer a few brief remarks." I had +written out this speech, and committed it to memory. "It is very natural +that you should have great curiosity to know by what means I have +managed to redeem the pledge that I gave you a short time ago. In the +presence of gentlemen so enlightened as you are, I hardly need to say +that the speedy communication which I have been enabled to make with the +Western world is effected by no supernatural agency, but by a wonderful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +discovery in the realms of nature, the precise character of which I do +not at present consider it expedient to disclose. Let it suffice, that I +am able to furnish you, at reasonable rates, with the latest +intelligence from the United States of America; and I wish it to be +distinctly understood, that if I ever have reason to suspect that my +movements are watched, or that any efforts are made to detect my secret, +from that time my contract with you is at an end. I also desire to +stipulate that no statement of my transactions with you shall be allowed +to find its way into the public prints, either in China or America. Let +the whole matter remain a profound secret between us; your own interest +will be consulted by this as well as mine. If, indeed, it should so +happen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> that you should ever see any remarkable and novel movement in +the heavens, of course I cannot hinder you from forming your own +impressions, and making your own deductions from the phenomena.</p> + +<p>"And now, gentlemen, every morning between ten and eleven o'clock, I +propose to be here with the papers; <i>price one dollar per copy, cash on +delivery</i>."</p> + +<p>The bundle, containing one hundred papers, was immediately disposed of; +some gentlemen taking two or three, and others half a dozen.</p> + +<p>The tongues of my patrons were now unloosed, and they all acceded +unhesitatingly to the terms which I had proposed. An elderly Englishman, +with a very white waistcoat, and a very large watch-chain, came up to +me, and, patting my shoulder,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> said, "Why, my son, you have done better +than you promised; you have given us the newspapers in much less than +thirty-six hours after their issue at home."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I replied; "I intended to get them here in about <i>sixteen</i> +hours; but I thought it more prudent to say thirty-six, +because—because"—I hardly knew what reason to give, without betraying +myself—"because, sir, I wasn't certain how the magnetic currents might +operate."</p> + +<p>"Ah-hah-ah, I begin to see. Magnetic currents in the heavens, in the +atmosphere."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I answered promptly, "in the <i>atmosphere</i>."</p> + +<p>This was true enough; but I could not say in the <i>heavens</i>, without +telling an untruth; and this I always regarded as a great sin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't you think," continued my English friend, "that, when you bring +the American papers over, you could just stop on the way, and get a copy +or two of 'The London Times'?"</p> + +<p>"I do not go for the papers myself."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say that they come entirely by themselves?" he +replied, looking more perplexed and astounded than I can describe.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," I said, breaking into a hearty laugh. "I have a partner +on the other side, who will forward them to me every morning."</p> + +<p>"Then they do come of themselves, after they are once started?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," I said, feeling a little embarrassed, and very much afraid +that I might commit myself, "after the proper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> impulse and direction are +given, they do come of themselves."</p> + +<p>"But how, in the name of all that is marvellous, after the package gets +into the right magnetic current, does it manage to alight in this +vicinity?"</p> + +<p>"That is easily explained by the laws of gravity."</p> + +<p>The attention of all present was arrested by this conversation, and I +began to feel that I was getting upon dangerous ground.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, taking hold of the handle of the door, +"from answering any more questions at this time. My mind is getting a +little confused; and, what is more, I am very hungry." Upon which I +retired to the dining-room.</p> + +<p>Every thing went on successfully during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> the remainder of the week; all +the packages arrived safely and in good order, and on Friday evening I +was ready to remit several hundred dollars to my brother. At the same +time, I thought that it was proper for me to write a few lines to my +good mother; and accordingly I sat down and made out quite a long +letter, which I enclosed in the same bundle with the money.</p> + +<p>On Saturday evening, the papers arrived half an hour later than usual, +as I had arranged with Bob; and on the wrapper I was delighted to read, +in great, scrawling letters, "<i>All right: money and letters received.</i>"</p> + +<p>On Sunday, as I was lying in my hammock, and thinking of home, it came +to my mind that my dear mother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> had probably expected me to pass the day +with her; and then for the first time it flashed across me, that, when I +wrote her on Friday, I entirely forgot that she supposed me all the +while to have been in the little town of Canton, on the Boston and +Providence Railroad. "What on earth," I said to myself, "will she +imagine when she reads my letter? I certainly must have betrayed myself. +I don't remember exactly what it was that I wrote; but there must have +been some things in the letter that will lead the poor old lady to +suppose that I am crazy. Well, perhaps I shall know more about it when +the next bundle comes; and I will try to be patient until then."</p> + +<p>The next morning I awaited the usual arrival with great anxiety; and, as +soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> as the package came into my hands, I tore off the outer covering, +and, to my great relief, found a letter in my mother's handwriting, +addressed,—<br /><br /></p> + +<center><span class="smcap">"Master John Whopper,</span></center> + +<p style="margin-left: 65%;"><span class="smcap">Canton, Mass."</span><br /><br /></p> + + +<p style="margin-left: 5%;">It read as follows:—</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 65%;"><span class="smcap">Roxbury</span>, March, 1867.</p> + +<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">My dearest John</span>,—I was very much disappointed that you did not +come home to pass the Sabbath. I had a nice dinner all ready for +you; and your little sister cried hard when she found that you were +not to sit down with us. We were all very glad, however, to get +your letter; and I am thankful that you have been so prospered in +your business. I had no idea that you would be able to make so much +money by selling papers in Canton: they must be a great reading +community. I hope, my dear son, that all is made honestly. There +are some things in your letter which have puzzled me a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> little, and +I do not know that I exactly understand all that you say. You also +speak of visiting the Joss-house once or twice. I never knew any +family of that name: only I happen to remember, that, up in +Manchester, there were quite a large number of people by the name +of Josslyn; and sometimes the boys used to call them, in sport, +"the Josses." It is not a good habit to give nicknames to other +persons, especially where you visit the family. You also speak of +their burning a great deal of colored paper, and a great many +scented sticks before an image. I asked Bob what he thought this +meant: but he jumped right behind the closet-door, and made the +most extraordinary noises with his mouth that I ever heard; and +when he came out again his eyes were full of tears, and he looked +as if he had had a fit. "Bob," said I, "what is the matter?" "I +have had a high-strike,"—he should have said high-sterick,—"I do +have 'em sometimes." "Robert," I said very seriously, "what do you +think your brother means?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if the Josses had a bust of +Daniel Webster or Henry Clay in their parlor, and perhaps they burn +things round it to keep off the flies." Then he began to laugh +again, and I could not tell whether he was in earnest or not. I am +not very much pleased to hear you say that you go out in the +afternoon to fly kites with a parcel of old mandarins. I think that +you might find some better use for your time; and I am afraid from +the way in which you speak of them, that these old mandarins are +not very respectable characters. Your brother says that kite-flying +means speculating, and that the mandarins are probably brokers. I +trust, my dear boy, that you are not making any of your money in +this way. Who is this Chim-jung-tsee, who is to be your teacher? It +is a very strange name for a Christian to be called by, and I don't +like the sound of it. And what do you mean, when you say you want +to learn the language so that you may be able to talk with the +natives?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> I never stopped in Canton but once, and that was when the +axle-tree of the engine, or something else, broke down. There were +a good many people from the village came up to the depot then; and +I heard them talk for more than an hour, and I understood every +word they said. I am almost afraid that your application to +business, and selling your papers at such a profit, is turning your +brain. You must not work too hard, and you must be careful about +your diet. I shall try and send you a bundle of doughnuts next +week, when I fry. There is something in your letter about eating +rats and birds'-nests, and other horrible things. I suppose that +you intend that for a joke. I wish that you would tell me where you +pass your evenings, and what kind of books you are reading, and how +many meeting-houses there are in Canton, and where you go to +meeting. Whenever you have to stay there over the Sabbath, I would +like to have you write out a full account of the sermons that you +hear. We all hope that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> you will come to see us next Saturday +night. Bob says that you are so busy that you will not be able to +leave; and that you have to sit up all night, and then sleep in the +day-time. Bob and Mamie send their best love. I will send a pair of +socks with the doughnuts. Your little sister says, "Tell brother +that I want him to bring me something pretty from Canton." I don't +know but she thinks you are away off in the great city of Canton, +in China. Write as often as you can to</p></blockquote> + +<p style="margin-left: 45%;">Your very affectionate mother,</p> + +<p style="margin-left: 65%;"><span class="smcap">Deborah Whopper</span>.<br /><br /></p> + + + +<p>I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I had read the letter, and +so I did a little of both. I could not bear to think that my mother +should be so deceived, and so bewildered; but it would distress her +sadly if she really knew where I had gone, and how I got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> there. I had +some doubts, too, whether she would be able to keep the secret long, for +they worm every thing out of her at the Dorcas Society. So I concluded +that I would write her another letter, at the end of the week, which +wouldn't give her any trouble. Week after week passed by without any +interruption of my business; and I devoted three hours every day to the +study of the Chinese language, under the direction of Chim-jung-tsee, a +young Chinaman who spoke pigeon-English very well, and had been highly +recommended by one of the waiters at the hotel. He was a very sleek, +smooth-spoken fellow: the top of his shaved head shone like a billiard +ball, and his tail hung four feet and a half from his shoulders. I +didn't altogether like the expression of his eyes;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> for although they +were usually turned up at the outside corners, like other Chinese eyes, +sometimes I would catch him with one of them turned down at the corner, +and then he seemed to be looking at me with one eye, and looking out of +the window with the other. His nails were longer than any I had seen in +Canton; and he usually wore stout leather cots on the ends of his +fingers, to protect them from injury. I never knew him to lose his +temper but once; and that was when, just for the fun of the thing, I +managed to snip off an inch or two from one of his nails with my +pen-knife. From that moment, I have reason to believe that he became my +deadly foe. He couldn't have made more of an outcry, had he lost his +arm.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day, as I entered my room, I found the young man carefully studying +a copy of "The New-York Times," which, contrary to my custom, I had +thoughtlessly left exposed on the desk. After the hours of study were +over, he asked, in an off-hand kind of way, how far New York was from +Canton. I thought it likely that the fellow knew already, and therefore +I did not hesitate to tell him. He then took up the New York paper +again, and, looking with great care at the date, began to count his +fingers, mumbling something to himself in Chinese which I could not +understand. Nothing more passed between us on the subject; but I felt +from that day that I had a spy upon me. I did not like to discharge him +from my service, be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>cause that would only excite him to greater +mischief, and I never thought for a moment of taking him into my +confidence.</p> + +<p>One Friday morning, just as I had finished dressing, there was a loud +knock at the door of my room; and three Chinese officials entered, who, +having first tied my arms behind my back, and fastened a short chain to +my ankles, proceeded to search every nook and corner of the premises.</p> + +<p>The evening before, I had fortunately converted all the money that I had +on hand into a bill of exchange, and this was concealed about my person. +The great object of their search appeared to be newspapers; and, after +rifling my boxes and desk of every thing in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> form, I was marched +off into the street, without a word being said by my captors. To all my +remonstrances, the only reply that I got was the holding up before my +face of a piece of yellow paper, with a huge green seal in the corner. +Without being subjected to any form of trial, I was taken at once to +prison. I found myself the occupant of a cell about ten feet square, +with one window secured by an iron grating. The furniture of the cell +consisted of a bamboo chair, a small table, and a low bedstead. I was +glad to find that every thing looked neat and clean. I remained in this +place for several days in utter solitude, except when my meals were +brought to me; and then all that I could get out of my attendant was, +"Me no talkee." I had not the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> slightest doubt who it was that had +caused me to be imprisoned; and I determined, that, if Chim-jung-tsee +ever came within my reach again, I would cut off every one of his +atrocious finger-nails. As I lay there thinking over all my wonderful +experiences, I could not but feel sad at what I knew must be Bob's +disappointment, when, after waiting hour by hour for my package to +arrive on Saturday morning, nothing appeared. Anticipating that I might +have trouble in China, I had directed, in case my remittance did not +reach him, that he should send no more papers through the hole, so that +no loss would occur on this score; and I knew that he was shrewd enough +to keep my mother and sister from having any undue anxiety. Then I fell +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> wondering whether my friends at the coffee-house had all forgotten +me, and how they managed to get along without their papers. I soon found +out that they had <i>not</i> quite forgotten me; although, for obvious +reasons, it would not do for them to interfere with the authorities in +my behalf.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, as I stood looking out from my window upon an open +square, where hundreds of people, young and old, high and low, were +amusing themselves by flying kites, I observed, among the monsters that +filled the air,—dragons, griffins, cormorants, sharks, and numberless +other fantastic shapes,—one kite that arrested my eye and fixed my +attention. It was in the form of an American eagle, with red and white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +stripes on the wings, and brilliant stars all over the body. From the +peculiar movements of this kite, I was led to believe that it was an +omen of hope for me, and that whoever held the string intended to do me +a service. In the course of half an hour, the kite was floated directly +across my window, and I saw that there was a paper pinned on the back. +As soon as it came within reach, I thrust my hands through the bars, and +in an instant tore the paper off. Unfolding it, I found in the inside +three steel-spring saws, and read these words: "As soon as you have +sawed away the bars, tie a white rag on the grating. On the first +evening after this, when the wind is favorable, a kite will be flown to +the window. Pull in the string very carefully, and you will come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> to a +larger cord. Keep pulling until a rope-ladder reaches you. Fasten this +securely to the window, and follow the ladder down over the wall. You +will there find your old pony fastened to a tree: jump on and be off. +Strapped on his back you will see a can of condensed food and a jar of +water, enough to supply you for some days. Success to you!" This paper I +at once tore into small pieces, and, as soon as it was dark, threw the +fragments out of the window. I now went to work with a light heart to +saw away the iron bars, preserving the filings, which I moulded up with +a bit of bread, to fill the gaps that I made with my saws in the +grating, in order to avoid detection in case the room should be +examined. In the course of about a week, I had cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> through the iron so +far that I knew it would be easy with one good wrench to tear away the +grating; and then, with a throbbing pulse, in the afternoon I tied a +piece of white cloth on the sash, as I had been directed. That night +there was not a breath of wind, and I knew that I had no hope of rescue +at present. I tried to sleep, but found myself constantly rising up and +listening for the breeze. The next day the kites were flying merrily; +and among them I saw the good old eagle, with a large round white spot +on his back, which I interpreted to mean that my signal had been +discovered. It seemed to me that the sun would never set that evening, +and I was in mortal fear that when it did the wind would also go down. +At last, the shadows of night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> descended upon the earth, and still the +breeze blew finely. I waited at the window, and watched with all my eyes +until near midnight, when, to my delight, I saw the shadow of a kite +coming between me and the stars. With one quick, strong pull I wrenched +the grating out, and stood with my head projecting from the hole, ready +to catch the kite. As soon as I got hold of it, I found that there were +two strings attached; and I was careful to cut only one, as the other +was probably intended to remove the kite, and pull it to the ground +again. After hauling in the twine and the stronger cords fastened to it, +I found the rope-ladder in my grasp; and in a very short time it was +fastened to the iron bars below the grating that I had removed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> At the +same moment, I felt that some one at the other end was hauling the +ladder in tight, and no doubt securing it below. Five minutes later and +I was free! Not a human being was in sight as I stood once more on the +earth: my confederate, whoever he was,—now that every thing was +accomplished that he could do,—probably thinking it was safer for him +to be out of the way. But there stood my beloved pony, who had carried +me so often from the Air-Line Station to Canton; and, before many +seconds had passed, he was making the sparks fly under his feet as we +headed for the old familiar spot in the country. It was not necessary +for me to guide him; dark as it was, the pony knew the way well enough; +and I soon reached the cavity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> through which I hoped to visit "my own, +my native land," where people are not arrested without knowing what is +the crime with which they are charged. Removing the jar of water and the +can of food from my pony's back, without stopping to think why I did it, +but following a sort of instinct which afterwards saved me from +perishing, I fastened these articles on my shoulders and around my +waist; then, sobbing, threw my arms around poor pony's neck, and with a +pang bade him good-by. He flew snorting away to his stable, where I have +no doubt he soon found comfort in a quart or two of rice and a peck of +oats.</p> + +<p>And now, strange to say, although I had accomplished the journey through +the earth three times with entire safety, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> shrank with dread from the +thought of jumping once more in the dark hole beneath. I suppose the +trials which I had just endured had unstrung my nerves, and that the +solemn hour of the night made the leap seem all the more fearful. And +yet <i>through I must go</i>. China was not the place for me to remain in any +longer; and so I stepped down some two or three feet into the cavity, +and stood upon a little projection of rock, feeling that it would +require less effort to drop from this place downward than to leap from +the surface. Seizing the projecting rock with my hands, I then let go, +and down I went. It was a relief to find that I was now fairly under +way; and when, after the lapse of a few hours, I began to see daylight +brightening around me, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> thought that all my cares were about to end. +Brighter and brighter it grew, and I had almost reached the edge of the +hole, when, to my horror, I found that the motion of my body was ceasing +altogether. Could it be that I had made a fatal mistake in dropping from +that inner ledge on the other side, instead of jumping boldly from the +surface? It must be so. Oh, what a fool I was! I might have known that +the projectile power would not be sufficient to take me clear through! +What will become of me? For, at this moment, I felt myself beginning to +sink back again into the bowels of the earth. And there through the +long, long hours, I swung backwards and forwards like an enormous +pendulum,—every time that I rose and fell, with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> shorter and shorter +range,—until I stopped in equilibrium at the centre of the earth. The +sensation of absolute rest was more terrible than motion. There I was +alive, buried deeper than any other being ever was before. Was there any +possible way in which I could extricate myself? I now made a great +effort to collect my thoughts, and give to this question careful +consideration. At last, a bright idea came into my mind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT CAUGHT IN THE EARTH, AND THEN GOT OUT AGAIN.</h3> + + +<p>The idea that came to me was at first very vague and indefinite; neither +was it at all certain that my plan could be carried out. It had been +suggested by a peculiar sound which fell upon my ear as soon as I became +stationary, and which had continued to reverberate through the darkness +all the while. As I had been obliged, while in China, to be about so +much at night, I had provided myself with one of those compact lanterns, +which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> can be folded up, and carried in the pocket, with a good supply +of best wax matches. The first thing to be done was to strike a light, +and see what sort of a place I was floating in. The sensation of +floating in equilibrium was delightful and soothing; and yet I felt that +it would be a relief to touch something solid. As soon as my candle +lighted up the cavity, I saw that the walls of my strange abode were +perforated in various places by holes, some of which were large enough +to admit my body. Taking my cap from my head, I found that by waving it +in the air I could readily waft my body in whatever direction I chose; +and, in less than a minute, I found myself comfortably seated in the +largest and most convenient of these cavities. I now felt the need of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +food and drink; and, before proceeding to do any thing else, I opened +one of the cans of concentrated meat, and with a glass of water from the +jar which I had so fortunately brought with me, I made quite a nice +meal. With all the burden that weighed upon my mind, I could not help +smiling when I thought that I was the only person that had ever dined in +that particular locality. After dinner, I stretched myself out, and took +a good long sleep. At last I awoke as bright as a lark, and began to +explore the surrounding region. The point that I wished particularly to +determine was this: What is the cause of the low, grinding sound that I +continually hear? and from what locality does it proceed? Upon the +answer to these questions depended all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> my hopes of escape. Strapping +the jar and cans securely about me, I thought that I would try to +penetrate the orifice which I had entered; but, as soon as I got upon my +feet, the slight muscular effort that I made in walking lifted me again +into the air, and I found myself once more in equilibrium. At first this +discouraged and perplexed me; but observing that I could propel myself +with the greatest ease by just fanning the air, as before, with my cap, +I concluded that this was a very easy as well as rapid mode of +locomotion. As I advanced farther and farther into the cavity, I found +that the grating noise, to which I have alluded, grew louder and more +distinct; and after moving along, perhaps about two miles, I came in +sight of an immense cylinder, the size of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> it was impossible for +me to estimate, as I could see only a small section of the surface. +Floating on, I laid myself alongside of the great tube, and, taking my +knife from my pocket, tapped the cylinder several times, and found that +it was composed of some very hard and resonant metal, entirely unlike +any thing that I had ever seen before. It was of a bright vermilion +color, highly polished in certain places, and somewhat rough and +honey-combed in others. From the vibration that came when I struck it +with my knife, I inferred that it must be hollow. I only needed to try +one further experiment, in order to be satisfied that my suspicions and +hopes as to the nature of this cylinder, and the cause of the peculiar +sound that I had heard, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> which now reverberated loudly on every +side, were correct. Observing that, at a point not far off, the cylinder +came almost in contact with the wall that surrounded it, I approached +the spot, and stuck two red wafers, one on the cylinder, and the other +directly opposite to it on the wall, with a distance of not more than an +inch between them. I would here observe, in explanation of my happening +to have these wafers about me, that they still continued to be used in +China, and I generally carried half a dozen or more about me in a stiff +envelope. Now came the crisis of my destiny! If the relative position of +the wafers remained for an hour unchanged, there was no hope for poor +John Whopper. With my watch—which, by the way, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> had protected against +the disturbance of the magnetic currents by a compensation balance—in +my hand, I gazed earnestly and anxiously upon the two wafers. Fifteen +minutes passed. In this time, the earth had revolved one ninety-sixth +part of its daily course, and the inhabitants on the surface had +travelled two hundred and fifty miles. If my hopes are well founded, it +is hardly time yet for me to perceive any change in the two red spots +upon which my gaze is fixed. A half hour slowly passes. I do believe +that the wafers are not directly opposite to each other! let me wait a +little while longer, that I may be certain. There is no mistake about +it,—the right edge of one wafer just touches the left edge of the +other. Eureka! Hurrah! I am right.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> I am right. This big cylinder is +<i>the axis of the earth</i>, fixed and immovable; and these huge walls are +revolving round it. There's a discovery to make a man immortal! What +fools the old geographers were that used to say,—"the axis is an +<i>imaginary line</i>, running through," etc., etc. The name of Whopper will +now be heralded to all coming generations with the names of Bacon and +Newton and La Place and Humboldt, and all the rest of them! Fame, with +her great silver trumpet—</p> + +<p>"Stop, my boy," I imagine the impatient reader is now saying. "You had +better get out into daylight before you crow so loud; we don't see how +your great discovery is going to help you to do that." I presume not; +but you <i>will</i> see, if you are only patient.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>I now reasoned thus with myself: "If the axis of the earth is +hollow,—about which I have no doubt,—and open at both ends,—inasmuch +as it is winter at the south pole when it is summer at the north, and +<i>vice versa</i>,—there must always be a strong current of air passing +through it,—the cold air of one extreme rushing into the warmer region +at the opposite pole. I have, then, only to find some way of introducing +my body into the interior of this axis; and, by taking advantage of the +current, I shall soon be able to see daylight again."</p> + +<p>The next thing, therefore, to be done was to find out whether it would +be possible for me to get inside the cylinder. I had observed, that in +some places the metal of which it was composed, showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> the appearance +of being honey-combed; and this gave me some encouragement. I now +crawled, or rather swam, about the surface of this cylindrical mass of +metal, and soon found an orifice large enough for me to thrust in my +hand and arm up to the elbow. True enough, there <i>was</i> a strong draught +in there, so strong that it seemed as if my arm would be wrenched from +the socket. Every doubt and difficulty were now removed, if I could only +find a hole in the cylinder three feet in diameter; and after an hour's +search, I lighted upon just what I wanted,—a good smooth opening, and +somewhat larger than was actually needed to pass my body through. This, +however, was fortunate, because I must have space enough to project +myself with some force from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> orifice, or I might strike the side of +the cylinder, and be dashed into fragments.</p> + +<p>Every thing was now ready: nerving my whole system for the terrible +effort and the frightful risk, I sprang with all my might into the axis +of the earth. After what I had experienced when I put my arm into the +cylinder, I expected, of course, as soon as my whole body was thrown in +there, that I should undergo the terrible sensation of being whirled +upward by a tornado. Instead of this, to my astonishment, the moment +that I had cleared the orifice through which I jumped I felt as though I +were floating stationary in the air. Could it be that I was deceived in +regard to the existence of the current? This could hardly be: it was not +possible that I was stationary, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> the hole through which I leaped had +vanished in a flash. It then for the first time occurred to me, that +being in the current, and as it were <i>a part</i> of the current, moving in +it and <i>with</i> it without any resistance, it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was advancing or not; and then I remembered how men that +went up in balloons, after they had lost sight of the earth, could not +perceive whether they were in motion or at rest; and how our teacher at +the Roxbury school used to explain the fact that we were not conscious +of the rotation of the globe on which we stood, upon the same principle. +When I thought of all this, I broke into a loud laugh, and for a long +time I could hear the echoes thundering through the cylinder.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>I cannot say how glad I felt that my journey through the axis of the +earth occurred at that period of the year when the current set from the +south to the north. The prospect of safety if I were to be discharged +from the south pole, would be slight indeed; but familiarity with the +writings of various explorers in the Arctic regions gave me the very +natural feeling that I should be in a measure at home in that part of +the world.</p> + +<p>The absence of any sense of motion, with the quietness and darkness that +surrounded me, began to induce a feeling of weariness; and I thought +that I should like to see how it looked where I was; so I lighted my +lantern, which I had extinguished when I leaped into the axis, when the +most dazzling and marvellous sight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> burst upon my view. I found that I +was not very far from the side of the cylinder, which was +polished—probably by the constant friction of the swift current passing +through it—so that it glistened like a diamond, only it was of one +uniform vermilion hue. Reflected, as in a fiery mirror, I caught an +occasional glimpse of myself, magnified to a gigantic size by the +concave form of the cylinder, and elongated in the most remarkable +manner by the rapidity with which I shot by the surface; and, after +this, I had no further doubts as to whether I was moving on or standing +still. I next amused myself by making all sorts of uproarious sounds, +which were repeated up and down, and back and forth, from the metallic +walls, until I was somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> frightened at the cries I made; for it +seemed as if fifty wild demons were shouting and yelling around me. +There are some of my readers who will remember the old chemical chimney +in Roxbury, and what strange sounds were heard there when the boys stood +below, laughing and talking. What I now heard recalled most vividly all +those experiences. To soothe my mind a little, I then took a jews-harp +from my pocket and played the "Star-spangled Banner." The effect was +beautiful and almost magical, and I sank at once into a delicious +reverie.</p> + +<p>But, as the time drew near when I supposed that I might expect to emerge +from my present position, I began to feel anxious as to what would +become of me when I came out. I anticipated, of course,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> that, moving at +such a fearful rate, I must expect to shoot up rather high in the air; +and the question was, where I should probably land. If, as is generally +supposed, it is a clear, open sea at the pole, I shall not <i>land</i> at +all, but come down into the water. In this case, I am inevitably lost: +but still my faith was not shaken; after all that I had endured, it did +not seem likely that I should be left to perish in the sea. I could do +nothing but trust and wait.</p> + +<p>In process of time the light began to steal in upon the darkness, and I +knew that another crisis was approaching,—the most trying and +formidable that I had been called to encounter. And, shortly, out I +went, high up in the air,—higher—higher,—until I thought that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +should never come down again. But, after a time, I felt that I was +descending; and the fear came upon me that I might tumble back once more +into the axis of the earth. If I had reflected a moment, I might have +perceived that this would be impossible; for, as soon as I had sunk from +my elevation down to a point not more than a hundred feet from the end +of the pole, I met the swift current of air rushing out, and was once +more hoisted up in the clouds. This was repeated several times over; and +I found myself in the condition of a cork ball, sustained in the air by +a stream of water from a fountain. It is a little odd, that at this time +there came to my mind a vivid recollection of such a cork ball that I +used to see tossing about in front of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> hotel that formerly stood at +the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston. At last it +occurred to me, that if at the time when I had nearly reached the +highest point of my ascent, and therefore must be moving very slowly, I +should fan the air with my cap, as I did before, it might waft me out of +the line of the north pole; and that I might as well come down into the +sea and be drowned, as to keep on bobbing up and down in this way +forever. The experiment was successful; and the next time that I +descended, I came gently, not into the water, but into a soft yielding +drift of snow, which entirely broke the force of my fall.</p> + +<p>I felt sure now that all was right; and, scrambling out of the snow, I +looked about to see where I was. All around,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> in every direction, there +was an open sea extending to the horizon; and it was evident that I had +lighted upon an iceberg, which had floated northward from a more +southern region. After I had refreshed myself with a little food, I +proceeded to explore the frozen island, of which I had so unexpectedly +become the sole proprietor.</p> + +<p>I am afraid that some of my readers may think that there is a tone of +exaggeration in my story as I proceed to narrate what I found there. +Thus far, it must be allowed by all that I have kept within range of +<i>possibility</i>, if not of probability; I have been careful to explain +minutely and scientifically just how every thing came about; and if it +should ever become as familiar a thing to travel <i>through</i> the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> earth as +it is now to shoot over its surface on railroads, and send messages +instantaneously from one end of the world to the other, this narrative +will not sound so very strange after all. But in telling what I found on +the iceberg, and what happened to me there, I may have to tax somewhat +the credulity of my readers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"/><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV. AND LAST.</h2> + +<h3>HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT ALONG AT THE NORTH POLE.</h3> + + +<p>I shall now give the general result of an exploration of the iceberg, +which occupied me for several days. I use the word <i>day</i> in the ordinary +sense, as indicating a period of twenty-four hours; although, during my +stay in the arctic region, the daylight was perpetual. This frozen +island, which was to be for a time my habitation, extended, so far as I +could judge, over an area of about five hundred acres; but there were +certain marks about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> the surface and cleavages on the sides, which +indicated that it was originally of much greater size. It was also very +evident that it had assumed its form, and been detached from the shore, +at some point on the coast many degrees remote from its present +position, and had then been driven towards the pole by some +extraordinary current into which it had happened to fall. At some former +period, this iceberg must have floated, or been stationary, in a region +where game abounded and birds were plenty; where vessels sailed, and +where vessels were wrecked; and, when it was launched from the shore, it +carried off with it not less than an acre of good, rich loam,—the +effect, probably, of a land-slide in the vicinity. It will, I think, be +seen that it is only upon this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> general supposition, that we can account +for what I found there. I may here observe, before proceeding further, +that, while on three sides the walls of the berg rose almost +perpendicularly out of the sea, yet on the remaining side there was +quite an easy and gradual slope down to the water; and this may also +serve to explain how some of the things that I found on the island were +thrown or lifted there.</p> + +<p>The food that I had brought with me from Canton was soon exhausted; and +the first great want that I experienced was the means of keeping my soul +in my body. In the deep crevices of the ice, I found places where I +could manage in a measure to shelter my body from the cold while I +slept; but what reasonable pros<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>pect had I of finding food in this +forlorn spot? I now began to feel the pangs of hunger; but, instead of +yielding to despair, with a stout heart I determined to search the +region thoroughly, and see if a kind Providence had not made some +provision for my wants. After roaming about for a while, my foot struck +upon a little keg, partially embedded in the ice; and, to my joy, I read +the mark on the top, "Bent's Hard Crackers, Milton, Mass." It took me +hardly a minute to kick it open; and there the crackers lay, as sound +and sweet as when they were first packed. I do not know exactly how many +I ate, but I should say not much over fifteen. The keg was then put in a +safe place, where I should be certain to find it by and by. In the +course of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> forenoon, I came upon a frozen bear; and I also found, in +the same vicinity, plenty of old barrel-staves, and broken hoops, and +other pieces of wood, great and small, which I laid in a heap upon the +earth. "Now," said I, "we will have a bit of roast meat for dinner, with +a few toasted crackers for dessert." Before two o'clock, I had a bright +fire burning, and a delicate slice of the bear roasting before it.</p> + +<p>The next thing to be done was to strip the bear of his skin; but this I +found to be a difficult task. It had been a tough job to cut out with my +jack-knife the frozen slice of meat upon which I had just dined; and it +was impossible to strip off the skin without tearing it in pieces. A +bright thought now occurred to me, and I proceeded to kindle a fire all +around the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> animal; and when the heat had become strong enough just to +loosen the hide from the carcass, I went to work, and, in an hour or +two, had a nice warm robe to wrap myself in at night. At the same time I +extinguished the fire, as I did not care to cook the entire bear all at +once.</p> + +<p>My jar of water gave out the day that I was dropped upon the berg; and +at first I thought that I could quench my thirst by eating small bits of +ice, but I soon found that this only increased the difficulty. I then +remembered to have read in a magazine, that the amount of caloric taken +out of the system in order to melt the ice in one's mouth was so great +as to only increase the feeling of thirst. All anxiety, however, on this +point was soon at an end; for the sun was now hot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> enough, for an hour +or two at noon, to melt a sufficient quantity of the loose snow in +certain localities to furnish all the water that I needed.</p> + +<p>With my bear-meat and Bent's crackers for food, and my bearskin for a +blanket, I might now be considered for the present as above the reach of +absolute want; and still it is not to be supposed that I was in a very +contented and happy frame of mind. I was very thankful for all the +mercies that I had received; and, when I looked back upon all the +wonderful deliverances that I had experienced, I could not help feeling +confident that all would go well with me hereafter.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the great want that I felt was <i>a home</i>, or at least +something,—some hut or hovel, or hole in the ground,—to which I might +retire when my labor was over, where I could eat my frugal meals, and +lie down to slumber at night. I longed for a place in which I could feel +that I was <i>localized</i>, around which domestic associations might +gradually entwine themselves, and where I might sing in the twilight the +songs of my childhood.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>The fifth day of my sojourn on the iceberg was the great day of +discovery. I determined, that morning, that I would now make a thorough +survey of the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> island. I knew that it would be rough work, and +somewhat dangerous; for, in some places, there were cavities fifty feet +deep, and I should have to climb over some very steep ice, where it was +as smooth as glass. Before starting, I pulled several nails out of the +hoops that lay around, and drove them into the soles of my boots; and I +was fortunate enough to find a good stout stick, into the end of which I +also fastened one of the nails. Filling my pockets with crackers, and +slinging a slice of cooked bear's meat over my shoulder, I started off, +having been careful first to pile up several loose blocks of ice in the +form of a pillar, so that I might be able to find the place again. I +then struck—as it afterwards turned out most fortunately—for that side +of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> berg where the surface shelved off gradually to the water. About +eleven o'clock, I found myself standing on quite a lofty peak of ice; +and, looking down, my eyes fell upon a sight that almost took away my +breath. Spread out before me on a level plain, there lay a large black +patch, which looked as though it must be earth; and on the farther side, +just where the berg began to slope towards the sea, I thought that I saw +something that looked like a building! Could it be that the island was +inhabited? Running, sliding, slipping down, as fast as I could go, in a +short time I found that I was not mistaken in supposing that it was +earth: for there lay, stretched out before me, an acre or so of ground, +almost as smooth and level as a garden; and, at the farther<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> end of the +plot, there stood,—not an ordinary house, not a barn, not an Esquimaux +hut, not a country store, not a railroad depot, not a +meeting-house,—but, what do you imagine? I will tell you as soon as I +get there. Rushing like mad across the ground,—oh, how pleasant it was +to feel the soft soil under my cold feet!—I came to what looked like a +dismasted ship, embedded clear up to the gunwale<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> in the ice. There +lay the whole deck of a three-masted vessel, unbroken and undisturbed; +but, as I soon ascertained, there was no hull underneath, for the deck +had evidently been broken off from the lower parts of the ship, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +thrown up the smooth, inclined plane of ice to the spot where I found +it, and then been frozen in there. What a discovery this was! I did not +know how to contain or how to express my delight; and, before beginning +to explore the premises, the very first thing that I did was to rush up +to the bell, that hung near the bows, and ring it with all my might. You +can't tell how strange it sounded, up there in that solitary, silent, +arctic sea, to hear the loud clang of the old bell sounding out over the +waters, as I tugged and tugged away at the rope. It would have done the +hearts of "Hooper & Son, Boston, Mass.,"—whose name I saw printed on +it,—it would have done the whole firm good, to have heard it. After I +had ceased ringing, and slowly tolled the bell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> for a few minutes, so +that I might make it seem as if I were going to meeting in Roxbury, I +sat down on the capstan to think matters over. Nothing had happened yet +that excited me like this. Jumping through the earth, and then getting +stuck in the centre; being blown through the axis, and lighting on an +iceberg at the north pole, and all that sort of thing,—I looked back +upon rather as a matter of course. But to find myself sitting here on +the deck of a three-master, with the cabins and offices at the stern all +in good order, and the caboose-house in the centre, with the little +funnel sticking out of the top, and a big boat close by it, covered with +canvas, and a huge anchor at the bows, and spare rigging and spare masts +lying all along<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> the sides, and a <i>real bell</i> to ring,—this was a +little too much, even for John Whopper.</p> + +<p>What was I to find in the cabins, and the offices, and the pantries, and +the caboose-house? The caboose-house reminded me that I was getting +hungry, and that it was near dinner-time. I had expected to make my meal +of dry crackers and cold bear-meat; but it occurred to me, that, on such +an occasion as the present, a luxurious repast would be more +appropriate, as well as more agreeable, and that very possibly I might +find in the caboose-house the materials for gratifying my appetite. I +did not as yet feel quite prepared to visit the cabins at the stern, for +I knew that I must become very much excited at what would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> found +there, and a good dinner would serve to strengthen my nerves, and set me +up. I went, therefore, at once to the caboose, and slid back the door, +which required considerable effort; and, sure enough, there was every +thing at hand that I expected, and a great deal more. The accident which +lifted the deck from the hull of the ship must have happened about the +middle of the forenoon; for there was the fire all ready to be lighted +in the cooking-stove,—shavings, kindlings, and coal in place; and there +lay the cooking utensils quite convenient. This was not all; the +materials for the dinner had been brought up,—a great deal more than I +could consume in a week. Immediately I took a match from my +pocket,—there was a box of matches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> hanging on the wall, but I did not +feel sure that they would be in working order,—and lighted the fire. +The next thing that I did was to go and select a lump of clean, clear +ice, to be melted in the kettle, that I might be ready to wash up my +dishes properly after dinner. I tell you that I gave a big shout when I +saw the smoke curling out of the funnel. I now proceeded, very +deliberately, to select from the cans and bottles and jars, that were +piled up in the corner, the various items of which I would make my +dinner. The first thing that I settled upon was a dish of "<i>Parker's +ox-tail soup</i>," which I remembered to have eaten some time ago at the +house of a benevolent gentleman in Washington Street, when he gave the +newsboys a lunch. My<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> second course should consist of a potted +partridge, with tomato sauce, desiccated turnips (I didn't know what +<i>desiccated</i> meant, but I took it for granted that it was all right), +and one or two of Lewis's pickles. I would then close with part of a jar +of preserved peaches. I did not need to do much cooking in getting up +this dinner; but I had hot soup, hot tomatoes, and warm turnips, which +got a little smoked, and didn't taste very good,—perhaps, however, that +was because it was desiccated. I enjoyed the dinner tremendously; and +after it was over, and my dishes were all washed and put away, my eye +lighted upon a box, half full of cigars, on the shelf. My first thought +was, "Now I will have a cigar, as the gentlemen do that you see at the +steps of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> the Tremont House in the afternoon, and that will make it seem +more like home." But, upon second thought, it occurred to me that this +would probably make me so sick for the remainder of the day, that I +should be unable to do any thing, and that I couldn't spare the time. So +I decided not to smoke until I had leisure enough to be ill for a while.</p> + +<p>And now, with a throbbing heart, I turned my steps towards the +cabin-door, and entered the gangway. There were two or three doors on +the sides of the narrow passage, which I did not care to open at +present; and so I passed on to the central door that led into the main +room. I had feared that I might be startled by the sight of dead bodies +or skeletons here; but there was nothing repulsive to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> be seen, nothing +that looked like disorder or confusion. There stood the centre-table, +with a few books and pamphlets lying on it, and two or three chairs +drawn around, and a large lamp suspended above. There was the grate, +containing a few half-consumed embers; there was the compass, swinging +between the stern-windows. A nice Brussels carpet was under my feet; and +there were three doors on either side of the cabin, opening into the +staterooms. The vessel appeared to have been a first-class merchantman, +fitted to carry half a dozen passengers; and how such a vessel as this +ever found its way into these northern seas was a mystery. I just +glanced for a moment into these rooms, and saw there trunks and valises, +and all the usual arti<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>cles of the toilet, mirrors, beds, and bedding, +and all other things expected in a respectable apartment. Then I visited +the captain's room and the mate's; the pantry, store-room, etc.; and all +the supplies and utensils seemed to be abundant and of the best quality. +I tried to find the log-book, but that was missing; and from this I +inferred that the captain had made his escape in safety, taking it with +him. This thought gave me pleasure.</p> + +<p>No danger now of my suffering for want of the comforts or luxuries of +life; I could dress elegantly, sleep magnificently, and fare +sumptuously. I selected the captain's room for my private apartment; and +having no luggage to transport, it required but little time for me to +take possession.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sun had now sunk as near the horizon as it ever did in that region +during the month of July, and what we called evening at home drew near. +I prepared my cup of tea in the cabin, and spread my supper on the +centre-table; then went out to take a little stroll on the deck. I +closed the door of the caboose-house, and, for the sake of appearances, +fastened it; then went up to the bell, and struck the hour, just to +gratify a sentimental feeling that I had. Then I retired to the cabin +for the night; and in order to make it seem snug and cosey, I dropped +the curtains over the windows, and lighted the hanging lamp. Kindling a +fire in the grate, I sat down at the table and tried to read. But +situated as I was, I found it impossible to fix my mind upon the book;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +and so I threw myself down upon the lounge to think over what had +happened, and speculate as to the probabilities of the future. It may +seem strange to some persons; but, with all my comforts about me, I felt +more homesick than I did when I was lying on the ice in my bearskin, or +when I was poking about in the bowels of the earth, trying to see how I +could get out. There was nothing to occupy my body; and that, I suppose, +was one reason why my mind worked as it did. At about ten o'clock, I +went to bed, and, after tossing about uneasily for an hour or two, +managed to fall asleep.</p> + +<p>When I awoke in the morning, it took me some time to remember where I +was. I thought, at first, that I was at home,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> and could hear the birds +singing by the window; and I believe that I called out "Bob!" once or +twice before I was fairly roused. But soon the real state of the case +came back to me; and, going into the staterooms, I hunted round until I +found a suit of good clean clothes that would fit me, and dressed myself +for the day. The clothes that I had worn were now so dirty and torn that +I was very glad to get rid of them. After breakfasting heartily,—and an +excellent cup of hot coffee I had that morning,—I began to think what I +should do with myself during the day. I had no longer to go tramping +about in search of food; and so I thought that I would take a little +stroll over my farm,—as I called the acre of loam that lay by the side +of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> abode,—and see how the crops were looking. I must confess that +the vegetation was not much advanced; and yet I could see, here and +there, little green shoots springing out of the earth, indicating that +the summer sun was beginning to have its effect upon the soil. It then +occurred to me how pleasant it would be to look out upon a greensward in +that icy spot; and remembering to have seen in the store-room a canvas +bag marked "grass-seed," and a rake standing there, I went for them, and +passed the forenoon in agricultural pursuits. In a few hours, I had +quite a patch of ground nicely raked over, and sown for grass. In less +than a fortnight, it had sprouted beautifully, and I began to be quite +proud of my arctic lawn.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>All the time, however, I was wondering how I should find my way back to +the abodes of man, and how soon I might expect to start for home. I had +presumed, that, as the season advanced, I should begin to drift +southward; and I hoped, that, before the winter closed in again, I might +reach those parts of the sea which are frequented by vessels, and so +find rescue. But whether I was moving or not, it was impossible as yet +to tell, as there was no fixed object in sight by which a movement could +be measured. I felt very certain that the iceberg was not grounded, +because there would be, occasionally, a quivering of the whole mass, +which showed that it was floating on the water. It was also growing +warmer and warmer every day, which was a favorable symp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>tom. If I had +known how to use the sextant or quadrant, I could have settled the +matter at once.</p> + +<p>Before long, I was satisfied, from the change in the appearance of the +ocean and of the sun, that I was indeed moving rapidly away from the +north pole; and the fact that I was afloat was settled conclusively by a +very alarming circumstance. I had observed for a day or two, that the +hanging-lamp did not appear to be entirely perpendicular; and, in +walking the deck, I had the sensation that I was not treading on a +perfectly level surface. Searching the mate's room, I found a +spirit-level, and laid it on the floor. There was no doubt of the fact: +the berg was undoubtedly tilting on one side. I then remembered, that, +not unfrequently,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> these mountains of ice rolled over, and made a +complete somerset. This was now, sooner or later, going to happen. What +could I do? I found that the ice, on the side that was beginning to +incline towards the sea, was much higher than elsewhere, and that this +superior weight was gradually destroying the equilibrium of the berg. I +also observed, that, between this elevation and the more level region, +there was a narrow, deep fissure, extending almost entirely across the +line of the lofty projection of ice.</p> + +<p>A great thought now flashed upon me. I remembered to have seen on the +deck, the day after my arrival, two or three casks, labelled "Dangerous! +Handle very carefully!! Nitro-glycerine!!!" These casks I at once +removed to a safe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> distance, marking with an upright stick the place +where they were deposited. Nitro-glycerine!—I said to myself. It was +that that blew up the "The European" at Panama. I remember it because I +sold three hundred and nine papers by crying "Great Explosion." A +newsboy knows something. And nitro-glycerine will go off if you hit it +hard enough.</p> + +<p>In the captain's room, there were several large, metallic flasks, made +very broad and flat, as I suppose for the purpose of better stowage in +his room. What they had formerly contained, I could only judge by the +smell; but they were empty now. This, then, was the experiment that I +would try,—filling these flasks with nitro-glycerine, I would lower +them into a crevice in the ice.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> Then, if I could, I must make a block +of ice fall on them.</p> + +<p>In two or three hours, my preparations were concluded. The flasks were +just large enough to fit snugly in the chasm. Above them, the precipice +hung over a little. Half-hidden by the bulwarks of the ship, I fired +three bullets from the captain's gun into the projecting mass. Nothing +fell. I loaded her again,—fired again, and a great block of ice keeled +over and slid down. As fast did I leap down stairs into the cabin, as if +I should be safe there. As I landed, I felt the great iceberg tremble; +then came a sharp, quick, terrible crash, as if forty thunders had +broken all together right over my head, and the great hill of ice sank +grandly and slowly into the ocean below. For a min<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>ute or two, I could +hear the roar of the waters as they opened to receive the huge mass, and +the berg rocked as if in a great storm; then all was still again. I +rushed back to my cabin, laid the spirit-level on the floor, and the +little bubble stopped right in the middle of the tube. The danger was +over.</p> + +<p>Another week passed; and there was no longer any room to doubt that I +<i>was</i> moving, and in the right direction. At the pole, there was never a +breath of wind; but now it blew quite strong. The compass began to show +signs of vitality; and, at midnight, I could see some of the brightest +of the stars. The sun dropped nearer and nearer the horizon every +evening, and it was growing uncomfortably warm at mid-day. As I was now +getting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> some information from the sun as to the points of the compass, +I set up a vane on the deck, in order to find out, from day to day, the +direction of the wind. This put another idea into my head. Couldn't I do +something to help the old berg along? Why couldn't the spare masts and +sails, that lay along the sides of the deck, be put to some use? The +foremast of the ship was broken off about fifteen feet from the level of +the deck, and I went to work to splice on a jury-mast. It was slow and +pretty hard work. I had to arrange the blocks and tackles in the most +scientific manner, in order to lift the heavy timber to its place; and +it required a great deal of strength to bring the ropes around the fore +and jury-mast, so as to bind them securely together. I then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> managed to +rig a yard to the mast, and, in the course of another day, had quite a +respectable sail set. The day after, I got up a jib, and then crowned +the whole by hoisting the American flag to the top of the mast. I did +not keep this flying all the time, but reserved it for great occasions.</p> + +<p>Here then, was a novel sight,—a great iceberg <i>under sail</i>, and +protected by the stars and stripes. Whether it helped us along or not, I +am unable to say: but it was a satisfaction for me to feel that I had +done what I could; and it gave me pleasure to go off a little distance, +and look at the extraordinary spectacle. I could not help laughing to +think what the old salts would say, when I got down amongst the whalers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +and explorers, at the sight of <i>an iceberg under sail</i>!</p> + +<p>I have nothing more to tell of my adventures in the arctic seas. About +the middle of September, I had reached the more frequented parts of the +ocean, and every day was on the lookout for some friendly barque, to +liberate me from my dreary solitude. For months I had not heard the +sound of a human voice, and I began to long for the society of my +fellow-men. Every morning I posted myself, with a spy-glass, on the +highest peak of the berg, searching the horizon for a sail. My situation +on the deck was becoming every hour more and more precarious. The +melting of the ice underneath had already caused the stern to incline +very decidedly towards the in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>clined plane that led down to the ocean; +and I felt that the slightest jar might, at any time, precipitate the +whole concern, myself included, into the sea. I suppose, indeed, that +nothing but the counteracting influence of the sails, which filled in +the opposite direction, had prevented this catastrophe.</p> + +<p>At last, after many a long and weary watch, I descried, in the far-off +distance, a sail; but the vessel moved off towards the horizon, and was +soon lost to sight. It was a bitter disappointment; and still I thought +that wherever <i>one</i> ship was sailing, others would be likely to come in +sight before long. I kept the flag flying now all the time, and hardly +ventured to sleep at all, lest some vessel might pass by unnoticed. On +the twenty-fifth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> of September, as I woke from a short and broken +slumber, I descried, not more than two miles off, a ship, heading +directly for the berg. As soon as she was near enough for the signal to +be observed, I lowered and hoisted my flag five or six times in quick +succession; and, to my joy, I saw the signal answered. It was all right +now: the only question to be solved was, as to the manner in which I +would get on board the vessel. I anticipated that they would not venture +to bring the ship alongside of the berg, but would probably put out a +long-boat for my rescue. As soon as that came within hailing distance, I +would establish communication with the crew; and, between us all, I did +not doubt but some way would be found for me to escape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> In a short +time, as I had foreseen, the ship lay to; and the boat came off, and was +rowed to the foot of the inclined plane. I never saw a more astonished +set of men in my life. They were staring at me and my extraordinary +craft, as if their eyes would start from the sockets; and the coxswain +rose and shouted,—</p> + +<p>"Ahoy, up there! who are you?"</p> + +<p>"John Whopper," I replied, "eldest son of the Widow Whopper, now +residing in Roxbury, Mass., U. S. of America."</p> + +<p>"Gracious me!" cried one of the men, "I know Widow Whopper."</p> + +<p>"I hope you left her well?"</p> + +<p>"Much as usual," the sailor replied.</p> + +<p>I was very glad to hear it.</p> + +<p>"Where are you from?" shouted the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> coxswain again; "and where did you +get your rigging?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you when I get aboard."</p> + +<p>"Come aboard, then."</p> + +<p>"I don't exactly see how to manage it."</p> + +<p>"Come down the plane, and we will catch you."</p> + +<p>It was too steep and slippery for me to do that; but, on the instant, +another bright thought arose. "Pull off a hundred feet or so," I cried, +"and I will be along."</p> + +<p>As soon as I saw that they had rowed to a safe distance, I went to the +mast, and suddenly let the sail go. In an instant, I felt the deck +quiver; and it began to move, very slowly at first, and then with a +tremendous rush, right down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> the inclined plane. I grasped a rope with +all my might, and steadied myself for the shock that must come when my +craft plunged into the sea. But there was no shock at all; gently as a +ship slides on her cradle, when launched into the water, the old deck +glided off upon the waves, and in five minutes I found myself safely on +board the long-boat. No sooner, however, had I left the strange craft, +than it began to sink slowly into the depths; and the last thing that I +saw was the American flag floating on the bosom of the deep.</p> + +<p>What was said to me when I reached the ship, and what I said, I have not +time to relate; only I didn't tell every thing.</p> + +<p>The vessel proved to be a whaler,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> bound for New Bedford; where I +arrived in good condition, and took the cars for Roxbury, via the Boston +and Providence Road, <i>passing through Canton</i>.</p> + +<p>I found all well at home, and very much relieved by my arrival.<br /><br /></p> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> It will probably occur to the reader, that some one of +Johnny's adult friends has touched up the style a little along here. J. +W. says that this is true.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> John informs the editor that he never wrote a word of the +last lines, and that he thinks it about time for him to take the bellows +again.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Pronounced <i>gunnell</i>: "The uppermost bend which finishes +the upper works of the hull, and from which the upper guns, if the +vessel carry any, are pointed."</p></div> + +</div> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<center>THE END.<br /><br /><br /><br /></center> + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Whopper, by Thomas March Clark + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN WHOPPER *** + +***** This file should be named 30463-h.htm or 30463-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/4/6/30463/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: John Whopper + The Newsboy + +Author: Thomas March Clark + +Release Date: November 13, 2009 [EBook #30463] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN WHOPPER *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER IN CHINA, By the _Air-Line_ Route.] + + + [Illustration: JOHN WHOPPER AT THE NORTH POLE.] + + + + JOHN WHOPPER + + THE NEWSBOY. + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. + + BOSTON: + ROBERTS BROTHERS. + 1871. + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by + + ROBERTS BROTHERS, + + In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + + + + Stereotyped and Printed by + ALFRED MUDGE & SON, + Boston, Mass. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER DISCOVERED THE AIR-LINE TO CHINA. + + +Two years ago last February, I think it was on a Tuesday morning, I +started as usual very early to distribute my papers. I had a large +bundle to dispose of that day, and thought that if I took a short cut +across the fields, instead of following the road from Roxbury to Jamaica +Plain, I could go my rounds in much less time. I do not care to tell +precisely where it was that I jumped over the fence; but it is a rough, +barren kind of spot, which nobody has ever done any thing to improve. + +After walking about a third of a mile, I began to think that I had +better have kept to the turnpike; for I found that I was obliged to +clamber over an uneven, rocky place, among trees and bushes and shrubs, +that grew just thick enough to bother me, so that I hardly knew where to +put my feet. All at once I lost my balance, and felt that I was sliding +down the side of a smooth, steep rock; while underneath, to my horror, I +saw what looked like a circular cave, or well, some five or six feet in +diameter. I tried to grasp the rock with my hands, and ground my heels +as hard as I could against the surface, but it was of no use; down I +slipped, faster and faster, until at last I plunged, feet foremost, into +the dark hole below. For a moment I held my breath, expecting to be +dashed to pieces; and oh, how many things I thought of in that short +minute! It seemed as if every thing that I had ever done came back to +me, especially all the _bad_ things; and how I wished then that I had +lived a better life! I thought, too, of my poor mother and my little +brother and sister at home, and how they would wait breakfast for me +that morning; and how they would keep on waiting and waiting, hour after +hour and day after day; and how the neighbors would all turn out and +search for me; and how I should never be found, and nobody would ever +know what had become of me. And then I wondered whether Mr. Simpson, +who employed me to distribute the papers, would suppose that I had run +away somewhere, to sell them on my own account; and so I went on +thinking and wondering, until it seemed as if there was no end to the +time. And yet I didn't strike the bottom of the cave, but just went on +falling and falling, faster and faster, in the darkness, and sometimes +just grazing the sides, and still not so as to hurt me much. My great +trouble was to breathe; when it occurred to me to lay the sleeve of my +coat across my mouth: and then I found that I could breathe through the +cloth with tolerable ease. After a while, I recovered my senses; and +though I continued to fall on still faster and faster, I experienced no +great inconvenience. How long this continued, I cannot tell; it +appeared to be an age; and I must have been falling for several hours, +when I began to feel as though I was not sinking as fast as I had been; +and after a while, it seemed as if I were rising up, rather than +tumbling down. As I was now able to breathe much more freely than I had +done, I began to think calmly about my condition; and then the thought +flashed across my mind, that perhaps I had passed the centre of the +earth, and was gradually rising to the surface on the other side. This +gave me hope; and when I found that I continued to move slower and +slower, I tried to collect my faculties, so that I might know just what +it would be best to do, if I should be so fortunate as to reach the +other end of the hole into which I had tumbled. At last, looking down, +I saw a little speck of light, like a very faint star; and then, I tell +you, my heart bounded with joy. At this moment it suddenly occurred to +me that it would not do to come out of the hole _feet foremost_; and, by +a tremendous effort, I managed to turn a complete summersault,--what the +boys always called a _somerset_,--which, of course, brought me into the +right position. How thankful I felt that I had been taught to practise +gymnastic exercises at the school in Roxbury! In my present attitude I +couldn't see the bright spot any longer: but, before long, I perceived +that it was growing lighter around me; and I was confident that the time +of my release drew near. I had determined exactly what I would do when +I reached the surface of the earth again; and, accordingly, on the +instant that my head came out of the hole, I grasped the edge with all +my might, and, by another terrible effort, swung myself up into the air, +and leaped upon the ground. + +It is impossible to describe the strange thrill that passed over me when +I thus found myself standing on what I knew must be the eastern side of +the globe. As soon as I had fairly recovered the use of my reason, I +began to speculate as to the region of the country into which I emerged. +If I had come directly through the centre of the earth, I knew, of +course, just where I ought to be; but this hardly seemed possible, +considering how short a time it had required for my journey. It then +occurred to me that I was really unable to form any accurate idea of +the number of hours that had elapsed since I left the soil of +Massachusetts; for, before I had fallen a hundred feet, a whole age +appeared to have passed. I knew that it was about six o'clock in the +morning when I started; and, on looking at my watch, I found that it had +stopped at 6.45, owing, as I afterwards ascertained, to the influence of +magnetic currents upon the hair-spring. + +The country around was in a high state of cultivation, except in the +immediate vicinity of the spot where I stood. This was rough and barren, +and so situated that the small cavity in the earth from which I had just +been released, would be very likely to escape observation. Thinking that +it might be important for me to be able hereafter to identify the +locality, I took a careful observation of its general bearings, and +twisted together a few of the twigs that grew near the hole, but in such +a manner as would not be likely to arrest attention. + +Striking off now at random, I soon found myself in a low, marshy region, +covered with a species of grain unlike any thing I had ever seen before, +but which I concluded must be rice; and then the thought came to me, +that very probably I was in China. After walking for an hour or two, I +reached a rising ground, and saw in the distance an immense city on the +water's edge; which from its position, and resemblance to certain +pictures that I had once seen in Boston, I believed to be Canton. +Refreshing myself with some fruit that grew by the wayside, I started +off in haste, in order, if possible, to reach the city before nightfall. +Just as the sun was setting, I entered what appeared to be one of the +main streets; when, tired and hungry and footsore, I began to think +seriously what I should do to procure food and lodging. Here I was,--a +poor boy in a strange land, unable to address a word to the people +around me, and with only a few cents and two or three bits of paper +currency in my pocket, that could be of no value in that country. _What +was I to do?_ Just then I came to a large and respectable-looking +building; and over the door there was this sign, in good plain +characters:-- + + "ENGLISH AND AMERICAN COFFEE-HOUSE." + +Tears of joy filled my eyes. In an instant, I said to myself, "Your +fortune is made, old fellow! Here you have thirty or forty Boston +newspapers, not twenty-four hours old, strapped around your neck; and I +rather think they will be in some demand in Canton." + +With a light heart I now entered the office of the hotel, and threw down +my bundle, with a good, black-leather covering around the papers, so +that it looked like an ordinary piece of luggage, which gave me the +appearance of a regular traveller; then called for a room, and ordered +supper. It was true that I had very little money in my possession,--not +enough, certainly, to pay my bill at the hotel; but no questions were +asked, and I gave myself little concern as to the future. I had a +first-rate appetite, and ate voraciously. + +After supper was over, I took my bundle in my hand, and strolled +leisurely into a pleasant and spacious room, where a number of +gentlemen--English and American--were sitting around in groups, some +chatting together, and others reading the London and New York and Boston +papers. Among them I recognized the face of a merchant whom I had seen +several times in State Street; and slinging the strap over my shoulder +in a careless, every-day sort of tone, just as any newsboy would have +done at home, I went up to him and said, "Have the morning papers, +Mister?--'morning papers?'--'Advertiser,' 'Journal,' 'Post,' 'Herald,' +last edition,--published this morning, _only five dollars_!" Everybody +in the room looked up, for I managed, as newsboys generally do, to speak +loud enough to drown every other sound; but no one uttered a word. It +was evident that they thought I was crazy, or something worse; and so I +just cried out again, "Have the morning paper, sir?" at the same time +thrusting a copy of "The Advertiser" into his hand. He looked like an +"Advertiser" kind of man,--well dressed and highly respectable. + +Involuntarily his eye glanced at the date,--"Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1867"; +and then, in an excited, quivering tone, he said, "Let me look at your +other papers." There was a long table in the centre of the room, which I +approached; and, slowly unfolding my bundle, I laid a few of the papers +wide open in front of the gentlemen, who crowded around in the highest +state of excitement. Still there was dead silence; when one of them +suddenly burst out with the exclamation, "Good heavens! Here is a notice +of the arrival of 'The Golconda' at New York, with a full account of the +cargo, and every thing else correct. Why, this must be genuine!" + +One after another followed with a cry of surprise at some news which +they had found; until, in a few minutes, every gentleman in the room was +absorbed in reading the papers, appearing to have entirely forgotten all +about me, and not caring to ask how it was that I had brought them to +China in less than twenty-four hours. After I had stood there whistling +carelessly as long as I thought worth while, I spoke up in a loud +voice, and said, "Well, gentlemen, you seem to be enjoying the news +pretty well. I hope you don't mean to forget to pay for the +papers,--_only five dollars a copy_!" + +At this speech every one of them looked at me with a strange expression, +as if they hardly knew whether I was a real human boy or something else; +when the Boston gentleman said, "How on earth did you get these papers +here?" To which I answered very carelessly, "I didn't get them here _on_ +earth." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will tell you what I mean, and answer your questions, after you have +paid me _five dollars each; and cheap at that, considering_." + +"Indeed it is, for me at least," said one of the gentlemen. "What I have +learned from this paper is worth to me, in a business way, thousands of +dollars"; and with that he came forward and put a hundred into my hand, +in the good, solid form of gold-pieces. His example had its effect upon +the others. Instead of the two hundred which I had hoped to receive for +my forty newspapers, I was actually in possession of not less +than--well, I don't care to tell exactly how much, on account of the +income-tax. + +"Come, now," said the gentlemen, almost in one breath, "tell us how +these papers came to China." + +"I brought them myself." + +"When did you leave America?" + +"The morning when these papers were printed: but how long ago that was, +I really don't know, as my watch stopped while I was on my voyage; only +I thought it was just as well to call out, as I always used to do at +home, 'Morning paper!' although, perhaps, for all I can tell, they may +be two or perhaps three days old; anyhow, I guess you find them a good +deal fresher than the rest you have got on hand." + +Having delivered myself of this somewhat protracted speech, I began +moving towards the door with the air of one who had said every thing +that could reasonably be expected, in reply to the curious inquiries of +my liberal patrons, when the Boston merchant motioned for me to stop, +saying with some severity, "Did you not promise that you would inform +the company how these papers came from America to China in such an +incredibly short period of time, whenever you should have received your +pay for the same?" + +"Yes, sir; and I just told you that I brought them over--not exactly +_over_--but--in short, I brought them here." + +"You say, 'not exactly _over_'; do you mean by that phrase to be +understood to say that you did not come over land?" + +"Your honor has hit my meaning precisely." + +"You don't pretend to say that you came by water?" + +"Far from it, sir." + +"How then, _under the heavens_, did you come?" + +"I didn't come under the heavens at all." + +"I don't believe," said the irritated gentleman, turning to his +companions, "that the fellow came at all; he must be lying." + +All the answer that he received was the rustling of forty newspapers, +bearing the imprint, "February 16, 1867, Boston." There was no getting +over this. + +After a pause of several minutes, during which a bright idea entered my +mind, I came forward into the circle, and said, "Well, gentlemen, I want +to see if I can make a good bargain with you; and when that is settled, +I will tell you how I came over--I mean, I will tell you how I got here; +that is, I will tell you _the route_ that I took. If I can arrange for +the delivery in Canton of the New York and Boston daily papers, within +thirty-six hours of the time when they are issued in those cities, will +you all promise to give me your generous patronage?" + +"Of course we will," they cried all together. + +"Very well; then I pledge myself to appear again in this place one week +from this day, ready to carry out my part of the bargain. And now, in +bidding you good-night, allow me to inform you that I came from America +to China by the _air-line_." + +With this I retired at once to my room, and was soon sleeping soundly. + +I knew that I should be watched so closely the next day as to make it +impossible for me to escape without detection; and accordingly I got up +an hour or two before daylight; and, having laid upon the table in my +room an amount of money which I supposed would be considered a fair +compensation for my supper and lodging, I tied the sheets together, and +lowered myself down into the then silent and deserted street. It was not +long before I found myself once more in the open country; and looking +carefully for the twisted twigs that I had tied together the afternoon +before, I soon discovered the chasm through which I had made my +remarkable trip to the eastern hemisphere. Taking the precaution to tie +a handkerchief over my mouth in order that I might economize my breath, +I summoned all my courage, and leaped into the hole. My experiences were +precisely the same as they had been in the previous journey; and in +course of a few hours, I found myself standing once more in the +familiar outskirts of Roxbury, and gazing tenderly upon the solemn dome +of Boston State House. As fast as my legs would take me, I rushed to my +poor mother's humble abode, longing to relieve the bitter agony to which +I knew she and my brother and sister must have been subjected during my +absence. It is not worth while for me to describe at length the scene +that ensued when I stood once more in the family circle, with my +mother's arms around my neck, and the young folks bellowing with joy. To +the frantic inquiries that were showered upon me as to what had +happened,--where I had been,--had I had any thing to eat? I coolly +replied that I had not had much to eat; and, if they would give me a +good, substantial supper, I would endeavor to relieve their minds. + +"Supper, indeed!" cried my good mother; "why, it's just after sunrise! +You haven't lost your senses, I hope." + +"I beg your pardon; but it was about sunrise hours and hours ago, when +I--when I"--and here I faltered, not caring just then to let the whole +family into my secret. + +"When you what?" said my mother, looking very anxious. + +"Why, when I left Canton," I now answered, very promptly. + +"You don't say that you have been to Canton?" she replied, but without +any such show of astonishment as might have been expected. + +"Yes, I have, mother. It occurred to me that I could sell my papers to +better advantage there than I could about here; and, indeed, I did, as +you may see." Whereupon I laid in her good old hand such a sum of money +as she had not clasped for many a day. + +"Did you get all this money by selling papers in Canton?" + +"I did, and a great deal more; which I am going to deposit by and by in +the Savings Bank to your credit." + +"There must be an awful demand for papers in Canton." + +"There is, mother; and they pay such high prices there, that I am +thinking of setting up a news establishment in the place." + +"And did you _walk_ all the way to Canton day before yesterday, my +boy?" + +"Then it was day before yesterday morning when I left home? I thought it +was longer ago than that." + +"Longer ago! Oh, dear, dear! you are not out of your head, my son?" + +"My good mother, I am as sound as you are. Only you know that sometimes, +when we are very much occupied, the time passes quickly; and I have been +quite busy since I left you." + +"And did you say that you walked to Canton?" + +"No, mother, I didn't walk a step." + +"Then you took the Providence cars?" + +"Well, mother, it was a kind of a providence car." + +[John's statement at once relieved the old lady's mind; but those of our +readers who are not intimately acquainted with the geography of +Massachusetts, may be somewhat puzzled at this. For the information of +foreigners and uneducated people in general, we must mention that there +is a thriving village on the Boston and Providence railroad, about ten +miles from Roxbury, which rejoices in the name of Canton. + +It may here be observed, that the young man's mind had got into a kind +of chronological muddle, and the days and nights were mixed up together +in the most miscellaneous manner. We, who are competent to solve any +ordinary problem, furnish our young readers with this explanation. John +left our American soil on Tuesday morning, at or about six o'clock. He +is twelve hours--there or thereabouts--passing through the earth. This +brings him to China also in the morning, as every thing is topsy-turvy +on the other side of the globe. His walk to Canton fills up most of the +day,--_Tuesday night here_. He sleeps in Canton one night. _Wednesday +here_; leaves Canton, _via_ Air-Line, the next morning,--_Wednesday +night here_; and arrives at Jamaica Plain on Thursday morning. Absent +from home forty-eight hours; twenty-four consumed in travelling _via_ +Air-Line; twelve in pedestrian excursion through the Kwangtung country +in China; and twelve in pecuniary negotiations and sleep at the British +and American Coffee-House, Canton. This makes every thing clear and +consistent. We would simply remark, that, when John first told us his +singular tale of adventure, we remarked that he seemed to have had a +very small allowance of food, as he ate but one good meal in the whole +forty-eight hours. To which he replied in a rather lofty manner, which +repressed all further comment on our part, that, when the mind was +filled with great thoughts, it didn't require much to sustain the body. +We should like to take John as a boarder. But he is now on his feet +again, and we let him speak for himself.] + +"As soon as I found myself alone with my young brother Bob,--a bright +fellow he was, and quick at a bargain,--I told him in strict confidence +the whole story of my adventures, and then laid before him my plans for +the future, in carrying out which plans I should need his co-operation. + +"I am now going," said I, "to Mr. Simpson's office, and shall pay him +handsomely for the papers I have sold. I then propose to contract with +him for the New York and Boston daily papers, paying for six months in +advance, to be delivered to you every morning at half-past five o'clock +precisely. At six o'clock you will drop the bundle, carefully made up +and nicely secured, as I shall direct Mr. Simpson, right through the +centre of the hole, to which I will direct you by and by,--always being +very careful to let it fall from your hand at a height of four feet +above the surface of the earth; in which case it will, of course, rise +just four feet _above_ the surface on the other side, and I shall be +able to secure it without difficulty. I will pay you fifteen per cent on +the net profits of the enterprise for the first six months, which ought +to be regarded as a liberal compensation for the small amount of time +that you will be obliged to give to the work. + +"Now, Bob, listen to what I am about to say with strict attention. On +every Saturday morning you must delay dropping your bundle for half an +hour; and between six and half-past six o'clock, be on the careful +lookout for a bundle _which I shall send to you_ from the other side. +This will contain my remittance for the week, which I wish you to +deposit to mother's credit in three places, the names of which I give +you on paper. She can then draw from time to time such sums as she may +need. + +"I shall remain at home for a few days and arrange to be in China next +Monday evening. On Tuesday morning you will forward the bundle of +papers." + +"Are you going to tell mother and sister all about this?" said Bob. + +"No: it would only worry them. I shall merely say that I have a great +opening for making money, and shall be obliged to be absent from home +for several months." + +"I think," said Bob, chuckling,--Bob labored under the delusion that he +was a wag,--"that it _is_ a great opening, or rather, I might say, a +_lengthy_ opening." + +Every thing was duly arranged according to the programme; and, on the +following Monday, I bade adieu for a while to the sweet light of day,--I +don't mean that I said exactly these words as I stood on the edge of the +hole--but that is the way in which it would be expressed in a +book,--and jumped boldly into the dark abyss. In due time I arrived +safely in China, and took lodgings in a small country inn about two +miles off, as I did not care to show myself at the Canton Coffee-House +until I had the papers in my possession. + +It was with a somewhat anxious heart that I went to my Air-Line Station, +as I had taken a fancy to call it, on Tuesday evening. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW JOHN GOT INTO TROUBLE IN CHINA. + + +It was Tuesday evening in good old Massachusetts, but not far from the +break of day in China. In order that I might be more sure to catch the +bundle of papers on its arrival, I had woven a net-work with my strong +twine, and securely fastened it to a stout wooden hoop. This I then +attached to a pole about six feet in length, and stood ready to swing +the net under the package as soon as it came within reach. The hour at +which I had calculated that the bundle ought to come in sight, provided +Bob had been prompt to the time that I had prescribed, had now passed, +and I began to feel excited and uneasy. "What if Bob had forgotten to +hold the package high enough from the surface when he dropped it, and so +the momentum had not proved sufficient to drive it _clear through_ the +hole? What if it had struck against the sides of the cavity, and so the +friction had stopped it on the way? What if the velocity with which it +must have fallen during the first few thousand miles had torn the +package in pieces, and the papers had been left floating about in the +centre of the earth? What if Bob had been taken ill?"--just at this +moment my fears and speculations were arrested by the sight of a small +white object, looking like a flake of snow, away down the hole, +hundreds of feet away, as it seemed to me. My heart almost ceased to +beat; the white object was coming nearer and nearer, and looking larger +and larger every second. But it is moving slower and slower all the +time, as if it was nearly tired out! Perhaps it will not come _quite_ +within reach after all? What an awful disappointment that would be! No! +it doesn't quite stop--_up_ it comes--ten feet more and I will have it; +five feet more--hurra! underneath goes the stout net, and the precious +bundle is clasped safely in my arms. + +I was so exhausted by anxiety and excitement, that I had to sit down for +a while, that I might recover my strength. I really do not think that I +was half so much overcome when I first came out of the hole myself. + +And now for the city, to keep my appointment with the gentlemen at the +Coffee-House. I had hired a pony to carry me to Canton, and had fastened +it to a tree near by; and very soon I was galloping off like lightning. +About ten o'clock, I reached the hotel; and, after stopping for a glass +of water at the office to clear my throat, I entered the room where I +knew my patrons would be assembled, and threw my bundle down upon the +table. + +Every man there started to his feet; but such was their surprise at my +appearance,--for not a soul amongst them ever dreamed that I would keep +my appointment,--that for one or two minutes, as before, not a word was +spoken. While they all stood around staring at me as if I had just +dropped from the clouds, I proceeded very leisurely to untie the +strings of the package; when, with a simultaneous movement, my eager +customers rushed towards the table, reaching out their hands frantically +for the papers. + +"Gentlemen," said I, in a clear, collected voice, "before proceeding to +distribute the mail, allow me to offer a few brief remarks." I had +written out this speech, and committed it to memory. "It is very natural +that you should have great curiosity to know by what means I have +managed to redeem the pledge that I gave you a short time ago. In the +presence of gentlemen so enlightened as you are, I hardly need to say +that the speedy communication which I have been enabled to make with the +Western world is effected by no supernatural agency, but by a wonderful +discovery in the realms of nature, the precise character of which I do +not at present consider it expedient to disclose. Let it suffice, that I +am able to furnish you, at reasonable rates, with the latest +intelligence from the United States of America; and I wish it to be +distinctly understood, that if I ever have reason to suspect that my +movements are watched, or that any efforts are made to detect my secret, +from that time my contract with you is at an end. I also desire to +stipulate that no statement of my transactions with you shall be allowed +to find its way into the public prints, either in China or America. Let +the whole matter remain a profound secret between us; your own interest +will be consulted by this as well as mine. If, indeed, it should so +happen that you should ever see any remarkable and novel movement in +the heavens, of course I cannot hinder you from forming your own +impressions, and making your own deductions from the phenomena. + +"And now, gentlemen, every morning between ten and eleven o'clock, I +propose to be here with the papers; _price one dollar per copy, cash on +delivery_." + +The bundle, containing one hundred papers, was immediately disposed of; +some gentlemen taking two or three, and others half a dozen. + +The tongues of my patrons were now unloosed, and they all acceded +unhesitatingly to the terms which I had proposed. An elderly Englishman, +with a very white waistcoat, and a very large watch-chain, came up to +me, and, patting my shoulder, said, "Why, my son, you have done better +than you promised; you have given us the newspapers in much less than +thirty-six hours after their issue at home." + +"Yes, sir," I replied; "I intended to get them here in about _sixteen_ +hours; but I thought it more prudent to say thirty-six, +because--because"--I hardly knew what reason to give, without betraying +myself--"because, sir, I wasn't certain how the magnetic currents might +operate." + +"Ah-hah-ah, I begin to see. Magnetic currents in the heavens, in the +atmosphere." + +"Yes, sir," I answered promptly, "in the _atmosphere_." + +This was true enough; but I could not say in the _heavens_, without +telling an untruth; and this I always regarded as a great sin. + +"Don't you think," continued my English friend, "that, when you bring +the American papers over, you could just stop on the way, and get a copy +or two of 'The London Times'?" + +"I do not go for the papers myself." + +"You don't mean to say that they come entirely by themselves?" he +replied, looking more perplexed and astounded than I can describe. + +"Of course not," I said, breaking into a hearty laugh. "I have a partner +on the other side, who will forward them to me every morning." + +"Then they do come of themselves, after they are once started?" + +"Why, yes," I said, feeling a little embarrassed, and very much afraid +that I might commit myself, "after the proper impulse and direction are +given, they do come of themselves." + +"But how, in the name of all that is marvellous, after the package gets +into the right magnetic current, does it manage to alight in this +vicinity?" + +"That is easily explained by the laws of gravity." + +The attention of all present was arrested by this conversation, and I +began to feel that I was getting upon dangerous ground. + +"Excuse me, gentlemen," I said, taking hold of the handle of the door, +"from answering any more questions at this time. My mind is getting a +little confused; and, what is more, I am very hungry." Upon which I +retired to the dining-room. + +Every thing went on successfully during the remainder of the week; all +the packages arrived safely and in good order, and on Friday evening I +was ready to remit several hundred dollars to my brother. At the same +time, I thought that it was proper for me to write a few lines to my +good mother; and accordingly I sat down and made out quite a long +letter, which I enclosed in the same bundle with the money. + +On Saturday evening, the papers arrived half an hour later than usual, +as I had arranged with Bob; and on the wrapper I was delighted to read, +in great, scrawling letters, "_All right: money and letters received._" + +On Sunday, as I was lying in my hammock, and thinking of home, it came +to my mind that my dear mother had probably expected me to pass the day +with her; and then for the first time it flashed across me, that, when I +wrote her on Friday, I entirely forgot that she supposed me all the +while to have been in the little town of Canton, on the Boston and +Providence Railroad. "What on earth," I said to myself, "will she +imagine when she reads my letter? I certainly must have betrayed myself. +I don't remember exactly what it was that I wrote; but there must have +been some things in the letter that will lead the poor old lady to +suppose that I am crazy. Well, perhaps I shall know more about it when +the next bundle comes; and I will try to be patient until then." + +The next morning I awaited the usual arrival with great anxiety; and, as +soon as the package came into my hands, I tore off the outer covering, +and, to my great relief, found a letter in my mother's handwriting, +addressed,-- + + "MASTER JOHN WHOPPER, CANTON, MASS." + + It read as follows:-- + + ROXBURY, March, 1867. + + MY DEAREST JOHN,--I was very much disappointed that you did not + come home to pass the Sabbath. I had a nice dinner all ready for + you; and your little sister cried hard when she found that you were + not to sit down with us. We were all very glad, however, to get + your letter; and I am thankful that you have been so prospered in + your business. I had no idea that you would be able to make so much + money by selling papers in Canton: they must be a great reading + community. I hope, my dear son, that all is made honestly. There + are some things in your letter which have puzzled me a little, and + I do not know that I exactly understand all that you say. You also + speak of visiting the Joss-house once or twice. I never knew any + family of that name: only I happen to remember, that, up in + Manchester, there were quite a large number of people by the name + of Josslyn; and sometimes the boys used to call them, in sport, + "the Josses." It is not a good habit to give nicknames to other + persons, especially where you visit the family. You also speak of + their burning a great deal of colored paper, and a great many + scented sticks before an image. I asked Bob what he thought this + meant: but he jumped right behind the closet-door, and made the + most extraordinary noises with his mouth that I ever heard; and + when he came out again his eyes were full of tears, and he looked + as if he had had a fit. "Bob," said I, "what is the matter?" "I + have had a high-strike,"--he should have said high-sterick,--"I do + have 'em sometimes." "Robert," I said very seriously, "what do you + think your brother means?" + + "Well," said he, "I shouldn't wonder if the Josses had a bust of + Daniel Webster or Henry Clay in their parlor, and perhaps they burn + things round it to keep off the flies." Then he began to laugh + again, and I could not tell whether he was in earnest or not. I am + not very much pleased to hear you say that you go out in the + afternoon to fly kites with a parcel of old mandarins. I think that + you might find some better use for your time; and I am afraid from + the way in which you speak of them, that these old mandarins are + not very respectable characters. Your brother says that kite-flying + means speculating, and that the mandarins are probably brokers. I + trust, my dear boy, that you are not making any of your money in + this way. Who is this Chim-jung-tsee, who is to be your teacher? It + is a very strange name for a Christian to be called by, and I don't + like the sound of it. And what do you mean, when you say you want + to learn the language so that you may be able to talk with the + natives? I never stopped in Canton but once, and that was when the + axle-tree of the engine, or something else, broke down. There were + a good many people from the village came up to the depot then; and + I heard them talk for more than an hour, and I understood every + word they said. I am almost afraid that your application to + business, and selling your papers at such a profit, is turning your + brain. You must not work too hard, and you must be careful about + your diet. I shall try and send you a bundle of doughnuts next + week, when I fry. There is something in your letter about eating + rats and birds'-nests, and other horrible things. I suppose that + you intend that for a joke. I wish that you would tell me where you + pass your evenings, and what kind of books you are reading, and how + many meeting-houses there are in Canton, and where you go to + meeting. Whenever you have to stay there over the Sabbath, I would + like to have you write out a full account of the sermons that you + hear. We all hope that you will come to see us next Saturday + night. Bob says that you are so busy that you will not be able to + leave; and that you have to sit up all night, and then sleep in the + day-time. Bob and Mamie send their best love. I will send a pair of + socks with the doughnuts. Your little sister says, "Tell brother + that I want him to bring me something pretty from Canton." I don't + know but she thinks you are away off in the great city of Canton, + in China. Write as often as you can to + + Your very affectionate mother, + + DEBORAH WHOPPER. + +I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I had read the letter, and +so I did a little of both. I could not bear to think that my mother +should be so deceived, and so bewildered; but it would distress her +sadly if she really knew where I had gone, and how I got there. I had +some doubts, too, whether she would be able to keep the secret long, for +they worm every thing out of her at the Dorcas Society. So I concluded +that I would write her another letter, at the end of the week, which +wouldn't give her any trouble. Week after week passed by without any +interruption of my business; and I devoted three hours every day to the +study of the Chinese language, under the direction of Chim-jung-tsee, a +young Chinaman who spoke pigeon-English very well, and had been highly +recommended by one of the waiters at the hotel. He was a very sleek, +smooth-spoken fellow: the top of his shaved head shone like a billiard +ball, and his tail hung four feet and a half from his shoulders. I +didn't altogether like the expression of his eyes; for although they +were usually turned up at the outside corners, like other Chinese eyes, +sometimes I would catch him with one of them turned down at the corner, +and then he seemed to be looking at me with one eye, and looking out of +the window with the other. His nails were longer than any I had seen in +Canton; and he usually wore stout leather cots on the ends of his +fingers, to protect them from injury. I never knew him to lose his +temper but once; and that was when, just for the fun of the thing, I +managed to snip off an inch or two from one of his nails with my +pen-knife. From that moment, I have reason to believe that he became my +deadly foe. He couldn't have made more of an outcry, had he lost his +arm. + +One day, as I entered my room, I found the young man carefully studying +a copy of "The New-York Times," which, contrary to my custom, I had +thoughtlessly left exposed on the desk. After the hours of study were +over, he asked, in an off-hand kind of way, how far New York was from +Canton. I thought it likely that the fellow knew already, and therefore +I did not hesitate to tell him. He then took up the New York paper +again, and, looking with great care at the date, began to count his +fingers, mumbling something to himself in Chinese which I could not +understand. Nothing more passed between us on the subject; but I felt +from that day that I had a spy upon me. I did not like to discharge him +from my service, because that would only excite him to greater +mischief, and I never thought for a moment of taking him into my +confidence. + +One Friday morning, just as I had finished dressing, there was a loud +knock at the door of my room; and three Chinese officials entered, who, +having first tied my arms behind my back, and fastened a short chain to +my ankles, proceeded to search every nook and corner of the premises. + +The evening before, I had fortunately converted all the money that I had +on hand into a bill of exchange, and this was concealed about my person. +The great object of their search appeared to be newspapers; and, after +rifling my boxes and desk of every thing in this form, I was marched +off into the street, without a word being said by my captors. To all my +remonstrances, the only reply that I got was the holding up before my +face of a piece of yellow paper, with a huge green seal in the corner. +Without being subjected to any form of trial, I was taken at once to +prison. I found myself the occupant of a cell about ten feet square, +with one window secured by an iron grating. The furniture of the cell +consisted of a bamboo chair, a small table, and a low bedstead. I was +glad to find that every thing looked neat and clean. I remained in this +place for several days in utter solitude, except when my meals were +brought to me; and then all that I could get out of my attendant was, +"Me no talkee." I had not the slightest doubt who it was that had +caused me to be imprisoned; and I determined, that, if Chim-jung-tsee +ever came within my reach again, I would cut off every one of his +atrocious finger-nails. As I lay there thinking over all my wonderful +experiences, I could not but feel sad at what I knew must be Bob's +disappointment, when, after waiting hour by hour for my package to +arrive on Saturday morning, nothing appeared. Anticipating that I might +have trouble in China, I had directed, in case my remittance did not +reach him, that he should send no more papers through the hole, so that +no loss would occur on this score; and I knew that he was shrewd enough +to keep my mother and sister from having any undue anxiety. Then I fell +to wondering whether my friends at the coffee-house had all forgotten +me, and how they managed to get along without their papers. I soon found +out that they had _not_ quite forgotten me; although, for obvious +reasons, it would not do for them to interfere with the authorities in +my behalf. + +One afternoon, as I stood looking out from my window upon an open +square, where hundreds of people, young and old, high and low, were +amusing themselves by flying kites, I observed, among the monsters that +filled the air,--dragons, griffins, cormorants, sharks, and numberless +other fantastic shapes,--one kite that arrested my eye and fixed my +attention. It was in the form of an American eagle, with red and white +stripes on the wings, and brilliant stars all over the body. From the +peculiar movements of this kite, I was led to believe that it was an +omen of hope for me, and that whoever held the string intended to do me +a service. In the course of half an hour, the kite was floated directly +across my window, and I saw that there was a paper pinned on the back. +As soon as it came within reach, I thrust my hands through the bars, and +in an instant tore the paper off. Unfolding it, I found in the inside +three steel-spring saws, and read these words: "As soon as you have +sawed away the bars, tie a white rag on the grating. On the first +evening after this, when the wind is favorable, a kite will be flown to +the window. Pull in the string very carefully, and you will come to a +larger cord. Keep pulling until a rope-ladder reaches you. Fasten this +securely to the window, and follow the ladder down over the wall. You +will there find your old pony fastened to a tree: jump on and be off. +Strapped on his back you will see a can of condensed food and a jar of +water, enough to supply you for some days. Success to you!" This paper I +at once tore into small pieces, and, as soon as it was dark, threw the +fragments out of the window. I now went to work with a light heart to +saw away the iron bars, preserving the filings, which I moulded up with +a bit of bread, to fill the gaps that I made with my saws in the +grating, in order to avoid detection in case the room should be +examined. In the course of about a week, I had cut through the iron so +far that I knew it would be easy with one good wrench to tear away the +grating; and then, with a throbbing pulse, in the afternoon I tied a +piece of white cloth on the sash, as I had been directed. That night +there was not a breath of wind, and I knew that I had no hope of rescue +at present. I tried to sleep, but found myself constantly rising up and +listening for the breeze. The next day the kites were flying merrily; +and among them I saw the good old eagle, with a large round white spot +on his back, which I interpreted to mean that my signal had been +discovered. It seemed to me that the sun would never set that evening, +and I was in mortal fear that when it did the wind would also go down. +At last, the shadows of night descended upon the earth, and still the +breeze blew finely. I waited at the window, and watched with all my eyes +until near midnight, when, to my delight, I saw the shadow of a kite +coming between me and the stars. With one quick, strong pull I wrenched +the grating out, and stood with my head projecting from the hole, ready +to catch the kite. As soon as I got hold of it, I found that there were +two strings attached; and I was careful to cut only one, as the other +was probably intended to remove the kite, and pull it to the ground +again. After hauling in the twine and the stronger cords fastened to it, +I found the rope-ladder in my grasp; and in a very short time it was +fastened to the iron bars below the grating that I had removed. At the +same moment, I felt that some one at the other end was hauling the +ladder in tight, and no doubt securing it below. Five minutes later and +I was free! Not a human being was in sight as I stood once more on the +earth: my confederate, whoever he was,--now that every thing was +accomplished that he could do,--probably thinking it was safer for him +to be out of the way. But there stood my beloved pony, who had carried +me so often from the Air-Line Station to Canton; and, before many +seconds had passed, he was making the sparks fly under his feet as we +headed for the old familiar spot in the country. It was not necessary +for me to guide him; dark as it was, the pony knew the way well enough; +and I soon reached the cavity, through which I hoped to visit "my own, +my native land," where people are not arrested without knowing what is +the crime with which they are charged. Removing the jar of water and the +can of food from my pony's back, without stopping to think why I did it, +but following a sort of instinct which afterwards saved me from +perishing, I fastened these articles on my shoulders and around my +waist; then, sobbing, threw my arms around poor pony's neck, and with a +pang bade him good-by. He flew snorting away to his stable, where I have +no doubt he soon found comfort in a quart or two of rice and a peck of +oats. + +And now, strange to say, although I had accomplished the journey through +the earth three times with entire safety, I shrank with dread from the +thought of jumping once more in the dark hole beneath. I suppose the +trials which I had just endured had unstrung my nerves, and that the +solemn hour of the night made the leap seem all the more fearful. And +yet _through I must go_. China was not the place for me to remain in any +longer; and so I stepped down some two or three feet into the cavity, +and stood upon a little projection of rock, feeling that it would +require less effort to drop from this place downward than to leap from +the surface. Seizing the projecting rock with my hands, I then let go, +and down I went. It was a relief to find that I was now fairly under +way; and when, after the lapse of a few hours, I began to see daylight +brightening around me, I thought that all my cares were about to end. +Brighter and brighter it grew, and I had almost reached the edge of the +hole, when, to my horror, I found that the motion of my body was ceasing +altogether. Could it be that I had made a fatal mistake in dropping from +that inner ledge on the other side, instead of jumping boldly from the +surface? It must be so. Oh, what a fool I was! I might have known that +the projectile power would not be sufficient to take me clear through! +What will become of me? For, at this moment, I felt myself beginning to +sink back again into the bowels of the earth. And there through the +long, long hours, I swung backwards and forwards like an enormous +pendulum,--every time that I rose and fell, with a shorter and shorter +range,--until I stopped in equilibrium at the centre of the earth. The +sensation of absolute rest was more terrible than motion. There I was +alive, buried deeper than any other being ever was before. Was there any +possible way in which I could extricate myself? I now made a great +effort to collect my thoughts, and give to this question careful +consideration. At last, a bright idea came into my mind. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT CAUGHT IN THE EARTH, AND THEN GOT OUT AGAIN. + + +The idea that came to me was at first very vague and indefinite; neither +was it at all certain that my plan could be carried out. It had been +suggested by a peculiar sound which fell upon my ear as soon as I became +stationary, and which had continued to reverberate through the darkness +all the while. As I had been obliged, while in China, to be about so +much at night, I had provided myself with one of those compact lanterns, +which can be folded up, and carried in the pocket, with a good supply +of best wax matches. The first thing to be done was to strike a light, +and see what sort of a place I was floating in. The sensation of +floating in equilibrium was delightful and soothing; and yet I felt that +it would be a relief to touch something solid. As soon as my candle +lighted up the cavity, I saw that the walls of my strange abode were +perforated in various places by holes, some of which were large enough +to admit my body. Taking my cap from my head, I found that by waving it +in the air I could readily waft my body in whatever direction I chose; +and, in less than a minute, I found myself comfortably seated in the +largest and most convenient of these cavities. I now felt the need of +food and drink; and, before proceeding to do any thing else, I opened +one of the cans of concentrated meat, and with a glass of water from the +jar which I had so fortunately brought with me, I made quite a nice +meal. With all the burden that weighed upon my mind, I could not help +smiling when I thought that I was the only person that had ever dined in +that particular locality. After dinner, I stretched myself out, and took +a good long sleep. At last I awoke as bright as a lark, and began to +explore the surrounding region. The point that I wished particularly to +determine was this: What is the cause of the low, grinding sound that I +continually hear? and from what locality does it proceed? Upon the +answer to these questions depended all my hopes of escape. Strapping +the jar and cans securely about me, I thought that I would try to +penetrate the orifice which I had entered; but, as soon as I got upon my +feet, the slight muscular effort that I made in walking lifted me again +into the air, and I found myself once more in equilibrium. At first this +discouraged and perplexed me; but observing that I could propel myself +with the greatest ease by just fanning the air, as before, with my cap, +I concluded that this was a very easy as well as rapid mode of +locomotion. As I advanced farther and farther into the cavity, I found +that the grating noise, to which I have alluded, grew louder and more +distinct; and after moving along, perhaps about two miles, I came in +sight of an immense cylinder, the size of which it was impossible for +me to estimate, as I could see only a small section of the surface. +Floating on, I laid myself alongside of the great tube, and, taking my +knife from my pocket, tapped the cylinder several times, and found that +it was composed of some very hard and resonant metal, entirely unlike +any thing that I had ever seen before. It was of a bright vermilion +color, highly polished in certain places, and somewhat rough and +honey-combed in others. From the vibration that came when I struck it +with my knife, I inferred that it must be hollow. I only needed to try +one further experiment, in order to be satisfied that my suspicions and +hopes as to the nature of this cylinder, and the cause of the peculiar +sound that I had heard, and which now reverberated loudly on every +side, were correct. Observing that, at a point not far off, the cylinder +came almost in contact with the wall that surrounded it, I approached +the spot, and stuck two red wafers, one on the cylinder, and the other +directly opposite to it on the wall, with a distance of not more than an +inch between them. I would here observe, in explanation of my happening +to have these wafers about me, that they still continued to be used in +China, and I generally carried half a dozen or more about me in a stiff +envelope. Now came the crisis of my destiny! If the relative position of +the wafers remained for an hour unchanged, there was no hope for poor +John Whopper. With my watch--which, by the way, I had protected against +the disturbance of the magnetic currents by a compensation balance--in +my hand, I gazed earnestly and anxiously upon the two wafers. Fifteen +minutes passed. In this time, the earth had revolved one ninety-sixth +part of its daily course, and the inhabitants on the surface had +travelled two hundred and fifty miles. If my hopes are well founded, it +is hardly time yet for me to perceive any change in the two red spots +upon which my gaze is fixed. A half hour slowly passes. I do believe +that the wafers are not directly opposite to each other! let me wait a +little while longer, that I may be certain. There is no mistake about +it,--the right edge of one wafer just touches the left edge of the +other. Eureka! Hurrah! I am right. I am right. This big cylinder is +_the axis of the earth_, fixed and immovable; and these huge walls are +revolving round it. There's a discovery to make a man immortal! What +fools the old geographers were that used to say,--"the axis is an +_imaginary line_, running through," etc., etc. The name of Whopper will +now be heralded to all coming generations with the names of Bacon and +Newton and La Place and Humboldt, and all the rest of them! Fame, with +her great silver trumpet-- + +"Stop, my boy," I imagine the impatient reader is now saying. "You had +better get out into daylight before you crow so loud; we don't see how +your great discovery is going to help you to do that." I presume not; +but you _will_ see, if you are only patient. + +I now reasoned thus with myself: "If the axis of the earth is +hollow,--about which I have no doubt,--and open at both ends,--inasmuch +as it is winter at the south pole when it is summer at the north, and +_vice versa_,--there must always be a strong current of air passing +through it,--the cold air of one extreme rushing into the warmer region +at the opposite pole. I have, then, only to find some way of introducing +my body into the interior of this axis; and, by taking advantage of the +current, I shall soon be able to see daylight again." + +The next thing, therefore, to be done was to find out whether it would +be possible for me to get inside the cylinder. I had observed, that in +some places the metal of which it was composed, showed the appearance +of being honey-combed; and this gave me some encouragement. I now +crawled, or rather swam, about the surface of this cylindrical mass of +metal, and soon found an orifice large enough for me to thrust in my +hand and arm up to the elbow. True enough, there _was_ a strong draught +in there, so strong that it seemed as if my arm would be wrenched from +the socket. Every doubt and difficulty were now removed, if I could only +find a hole in the cylinder three feet in diameter; and after an hour's +search, I lighted upon just what I wanted,--a good smooth opening, and +somewhat larger than was actually needed to pass my body through. This, +however, was fortunate, because I must have space enough to project +myself with some force from the orifice, or I might strike the side of +the cylinder, and be dashed into fragments. + +Every thing was now ready: nerving my whole system for the terrible +effort and the frightful risk, I sprang with all my might into the axis +of the earth. After what I had experienced when I put my arm into the +cylinder, I expected, of course, as soon as my whole body was thrown in +there, that I should undergo the terrible sensation of being whirled +upward by a tornado. Instead of this, to my astonishment, the moment +that I had cleared the orifice through which I jumped I felt as though I +were floating stationary in the air. Could it be that I was deceived in +regard to the existence of the current? This could hardly be: it was not +possible that I was stationary, for the hole through which I leaped had +vanished in a flash. It then for the first time occurred to me, that +being in the current, and as it were _a part_ of the current, moving in +it and _with_ it without any resistance, it was impossible for me to +tell whether I was advancing or not; and then I remembered how men that +went up in balloons, after they had lost sight of the earth, could not +perceive whether they were in motion or at rest; and how our teacher at +the Roxbury school used to explain the fact that we were not conscious +of the rotation of the globe on which we stood, upon the same principle. +When I thought of all this, I broke into a loud laugh, and for a long +time I could hear the echoes thundering through the cylinder. + +I cannot say how glad I felt that my journey through the axis of the +earth occurred at that period of the year when the current set from the +south to the north. The prospect of safety if I were to be discharged +from the south pole, would be slight indeed; but familiarity with the +writings of various explorers in the Arctic regions gave me the very +natural feeling that I should be in a measure at home in that part of +the world. + +The absence of any sense of motion, with the quietness and darkness that +surrounded me, began to induce a feeling of weariness; and I thought +that I should like to see how it looked where I was; so I lighted my +lantern, which I had extinguished when I leaped into the axis, when the +most dazzling and marvellous sight burst upon my view. I found that I +was not very far from the side of the cylinder, which was +polished--probably by the constant friction of the swift current passing +through it--so that it glistened like a diamond, only it was of one +uniform vermilion hue. Reflected, as in a fiery mirror, I caught an +occasional glimpse of myself, magnified to a gigantic size by the +concave form of the cylinder, and elongated in the most remarkable +manner by the rapidity with which I shot by the surface; and, after +this, I had no further doubts as to whether I was moving on or standing +still. I next amused myself by making all sorts of uproarious sounds, +which were repeated up and down, and back and forth, from the metallic +walls, until I was somewhat frightened at the cries I made; for it +seemed as if fifty wild demons were shouting and yelling around me. +There are some of my readers who will remember the old chemical chimney +in Roxbury, and what strange sounds were heard there when the boys stood +below, laughing and talking. What I now heard recalled most vividly all +those experiences. To soothe my mind a little, I then took a jews-harp +from my pocket and played the "Star-spangled Banner." The effect was +beautiful and almost magical, and I sank at once into a delicious +reverie. + +But, as the time drew near when I supposed that I might expect to emerge +from my present position, I began to feel anxious as to what would +become of me when I came out. I anticipated, of course, that, moving at +such a fearful rate, I must expect to shoot up rather high in the air; +and the question was, where I should probably land. If, as is generally +supposed, it is a clear, open sea at the pole, I shall not _land_ at +all, but come down into the water. In this case, I am inevitably lost: +but still my faith was not shaken; after all that I had endured, it did +not seem likely that I should be left to perish in the sea. I could do +nothing but trust and wait. + +In process of time the light began to steal in upon the darkness, and I +knew that another crisis was approaching,--the most trying and +formidable that I had been called to encounter. And, shortly, out I +went, high up in the air,--higher--higher,--until I thought that I +should never come down again. But, after a time, I felt that I was +descending; and the fear came upon me that I might tumble back once more +into the axis of the earth. If I had reflected a moment, I might have +perceived that this would be impossible; for, as soon as I had sunk from +my elevation down to a point not more than a hundred feet from the end +of the pole, I met the swift current of air rushing out, and was once +more hoisted up in the clouds. This was repeated several times over; and +I found myself in the condition of a cork ball, sustained in the air by +a stream of water from a fountain. It is a little odd, that at this time +there came to my mind a vivid recollection of such a cork ball that I +used to see tossing about in front of the hotel that formerly stood at +the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, in Boston. At last it +occurred to me, that if at the time when I had nearly reached the +highest point of my ascent, and therefore must be moving very slowly, I +should fan the air with my cap, as I did before, it might waft me out of +the line of the north pole; and that I might as well come down into the +sea and be drowned, as to keep on bobbing up and down in this way +forever. The experiment was successful; and the next time that I +descended, I came gently, not into the water, but into a soft yielding +drift of snow, which entirely broke the force of my fall. + +I felt sure now that all was right; and, scrambling out of the snow, I +looked about to see where I was. All around, in every direction, there +was an open sea extending to the horizon; and it was evident that I had +lighted upon an iceberg, which had floated northward from a more +southern region. After I had refreshed myself with a little food, I +proceeded to explore the frozen island, of which I had so unexpectedly +become the sole proprietor. + +I am afraid that some of my readers may think that there is a tone of +exaggeration in my story as I proceed to narrate what I found there. +Thus far, it must be allowed by all that I have kept within range of +_possibility_, if not of probability; I have been careful to explain +minutely and scientifically just how every thing came about; and if it +should ever become as familiar a thing to travel _through_ the earth as +it is now to shoot over its surface on railroads, and send messages +instantaneously from one end of the world to the other, this narrative +will not sound so very strange after all. But in telling what I found on +the iceberg, and what happened to me there, I may have to tax somewhat +the credulity of my readers. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. AND LAST. + +HOW JOHN WHOPPER GOT ALONG AT THE NORTH POLE. + + +I shall now give the general result of an exploration of the iceberg, +which occupied me for several days. I use the word _day_ in the ordinary +sense, as indicating a period of twenty-four hours; although, during my +stay in the arctic region, the daylight was perpetual. This frozen +island, which was to be for a time my habitation, extended, so far as I +could judge, over an area of about five hundred acres; but there were +certain marks about the surface and cleavages on the sides, which +indicated that it was originally of much greater size. It was also very +evident that it had assumed its form, and been detached from the shore, +at some point on the coast many degrees remote from its present +position, and had then been driven towards the pole by some +extraordinary current into which it had happened to fall. At some former +period, this iceberg must have floated, or been stationary, in a region +where game abounded and birds were plenty; where vessels sailed, and +where vessels were wrecked; and, when it was launched from the shore, it +carried off with it not less than an acre of good, rich loam,--the +effect, probably, of a land-slide in the vicinity. It will, I think, be +seen that it is only upon this general supposition, that we can account +for what I found there. I may here observe, before proceeding further, +that, while on three sides the walls of the berg rose almost +perpendicularly out of the sea, yet on the remaining side there was +quite an easy and gradual slope down to the water; and this may also +serve to explain how some of the things that I found on the island were +thrown or lifted there. + +The food that I had brought with me from Canton was soon exhausted; and +the first great want that I experienced was the means of keeping my soul +in my body. In the deep crevices of the ice, I found places where I +could manage in a measure to shelter my body from the cold while I +slept; but what reasonable prospect had I of finding food in this +forlorn spot? I now began to feel the pangs of hunger; but, instead of +yielding to despair, with a stout heart I determined to search the +region thoroughly, and see if a kind Providence had not made some +provision for my wants. After roaming about for a while, my foot struck +upon a little keg, partially embedded in the ice; and, to my joy, I read +the mark on the top, "Bent's Hard Crackers, Milton, Mass." It took me +hardly a minute to kick it open; and there the crackers lay, as sound +and sweet as when they were first packed. I do not know exactly how many +I ate, but I should say not much over fifteen. The keg was then put in a +safe place, where I should be certain to find it by and by. In the +course of the forenoon, I came upon a frozen bear; and I also found, in +the same vicinity, plenty of old barrel-staves, and broken hoops, and +other pieces of wood, great and small, which I laid in a heap upon the +earth. "Now," said I, "we will have a bit of roast meat for dinner, with +a few toasted crackers for dessert." Before two o'clock, I had a bright +fire burning, and a delicate slice of the bear roasting before it. + +The next thing to be done was to strip the bear of his skin; but this I +found to be a difficult task. It had been a tough job to cut out with my +jack-knife the frozen slice of meat upon which I had just dined; and it +was impossible to strip off the skin without tearing it in pieces. A +bright thought now occurred to me, and I proceeded to kindle a fire all +around the animal; and when the heat had become strong enough just to +loosen the hide from the carcass, I went to work, and, in an hour or +two, had a nice warm robe to wrap myself in at night. At the same time I +extinguished the fire, as I did not care to cook the entire bear all at +once. + +My jar of water gave out the day that I was dropped upon the berg; and +at first I thought that I could quench my thirst by eating small bits of +ice, but I soon found that this only increased the difficulty. I then +remembered to have read in a magazine, that the amount of caloric taken +out of the system in order to melt the ice in one's mouth was so great +as to only increase the feeling of thirst. All anxiety, however, on this +point was soon at an end; for the sun was now hot enough, for an hour +or two at noon, to melt a sufficient quantity of the loose snow in +certain localities to furnish all the water that I needed. + +With my bear-meat and Bent's crackers for food, and my bearskin for a +blanket, I might now be considered for the present as above the reach of +absolute want; and still it is not to be supposed that I was in a very +contented and happy frame of mind. I was very thankful for all the +mercies that I had received; and, when I looked back upon all the +wonderful deliverances that I had experienced, I could not help feeling +confident that all would go well with me hereafter.[1] + +But the great want that I felt was _a home_, or at least +something,--some hut or hovel, or hole in the ground,--to which I might +retire when my labor was over, where I could eat my frugal meals, and +lie down to slumber at night. I longed for a place in which I could feel +that I was _localized_, around which domestic associations might +gradually entwine themselves, and where I might sing in the twilight the +songs of my childhood.[2] + +The fifth day of my sojourn on the iceberg was the great day of +discovery. I determined, that morning, that I would now make a thorough +survey of the whole island. I knew that it would be rough work, and +somewhat dangerous; for, in some places, there were cavities fifty feet +deep, and I should have to climb over some very steep ice, where it was +as smooth as glass. Before starting, I pulled several nails out of the +hoops that lay around, and drove them into the soles of my boots; and I +was fortunate enough to find a good stout stick, into the end of which I +also fastened one of the nails. Filling my pockets with crackers, and +slinging a slice of cooked bear's meat over my shoulder, I started off, +having been careful first to pile up several loose blocks of ice in the +form of a pillar, so that I might be able to find the place again. I +then struck--as it afterwards turned out most fortunately--for that side +of the berg where the surface shelved off gradually to the water. About +eleven o'clock, I found myself standing on quite a lofty peak of ice; +and, looking down, my eyes fell upon a sight that almost took away my +breath. Spread out before me on a level plain, there lay a large black +patch, which looked as though it must be earth; and on the farther side, +just where the berg began to slope towards the sea, I thought that I +saw something that looked like a building! Could it be that the island +was inhabited? Running, sliding, slipping down, as fast as I could go, +in a short time I found that I was not mistaken in supposing that it +was earth: for there lay, stretched out before me, an acre or so of +ground, almost as smooth and level as a garden; and, at the farther +end of the plot, there stood,--not an ordinary house, not a barn, not +an Esquimaux hut, not a country store, not a railroad depot, not a +meeting-house,--but, what do you imagine? I will tell you as soon as I +get there. Rushing like mad across the ground,--oh, how pleasant it was +to feel the soft soil under my cold feet!--I came to what looked like a +dismasted ship, embedded clear up to the gunwale[3] in the ice. There +lay the whole deck of a three-masted vessel, unbroken and undisturbed; +but, as I soon ascertained, there was no hull underneath, for the deck +had evidently been broken off from the lower parts of the ship, and +thrown up the smooth, inclined plane of ice to the spot where I found +it, and then been frozen in there. What a discovery this was! I did not +know how to contain or how to express my delight; and, before beginning +to explore the premises, the very first thing that I did was to rush up +to the bell, that hung near the bows, and ring it with all my might. You +can't tell how strange it sounded, up there in that solitary, silent, +arctic sea, to hear the loud clang of the old bell sounding out over the +waters, as I tugged and tugged away at the rope. It would have done the +hearts of "Hooper & Son, Boston, Mass.,"--whose name I saw printed on +it,--it would have done the whole firm good, to have heard it. After I +had ceased ringing, and slowly tolled the bell for a few minutes, so +that I might make it seem as if I were going to meeting in Roxbury, I +sat down on the capstan to think matters over. Nothing had happened yet +that excited me like this. Jumping through the earth, and then getting +stuck in the centre; being blown through the axis, and lighting on an +iceberg at the north pole, and all that sort of thing,--I looked back +upon rather as a matter of course. But to find myself sitting here on +the deck of a three-master, with the cabins and offices at the stern all +in good order, and the caboose-house in the centre, with the little +funnel sticking out of the top, and a big boat close by it, covered with +canvas, and a huge anchor at the bows, and spare rigging and spare masts +lying all along the sides, and a _real bell_ to ring,--this was a +little too much, even for John Whopper. + +What was I to find in the cabins, and the offices, and the pantries, and +the caboose-house? The caboose-house reminded me that I was getting +hungry, and that it was near dinner-time. I had expected to make my meal +of dry crackers and cold bear-meat; but it occurred to me, that, on such +an occasion as the present, a luxurious repast would be more +appropriate, as well as more agreeable, and that very possibly I might +find in the caboose-house the materials for gratifying my appetite. I +did not as yet feel quite prepared to visit the cabins at the stern, for +I knew that I must become very much excited at what would be found +there, and a good dinner would serve to strengthen my nerves, and set me +up. I went, therefore, at once to the caboose, and slid back the door, +which required considerable effort; and, sure enough, there was every +thing at hand that I expected, and a great deal more. The accident which +lifted the deck from the hull of the ship must have happened about the +middle of the forenoon; for there was the fire all ready to be lighted +in the cooking-stove,--shavings, kindlings, and coal in place; and there +lay the cooking utensils quite convenient. This was not all; the +materials for the dinner had been brought up,--a great deal more than I +could consume in a week. Immediately I took a match from my +pocket,--there was a box of matches hanging on the wall, but I did not +feel sure that they would be in working order,--and lighted the fire. +The next thing that I did was to go and select a lump of clean, clear +ice, to be melted in the kettle, that I might be ready to wash up my +dishes properly after dinner. I tell you that I gave a big shout when I +saw the smoke curling out of the funnel. I now proceeded, very +deliberately, to select from the cans and bottles and jars, that were +piled up in the corner, the various items of which I would make my +dinner. The first thing that I settled upon was a dish of "_Parker's +ox-tail soup_," which I remembered to have eaten some time ago at the +house of a benevolent gentleman in Washington Street, when he gave the +newsboys a lunch. My second course should consist of a potted +partridge, with tomato sauce, desiccated turnips (I didn't know what +_desiccated_ meant, but I took it for granted that it was all right), +and one or two of Lewis's pickles. I would then close with part of a jar +of preserved peaches. I did not need to do much cooking in getting up +this dinner; but I had hot soup, hot tomatoes, and warm turnips, which +got a little smoked, and didn't taste very good,--perhaps, however, that +was because it was desiccated. I enjoyed the dinner tremendously; and +after it was over, and my dishes were all washed and put away, my eye +lighted upon a box, half full of cigars, on the shelf. My first thought +was, "Now I will have a cigar, as the gentlemen do that you see at the +steps of the Tremont House in the afternoon, and that will make it seem +more like home." But, upon second thought, it occurred to me that this +would probably make me so sick for the remainder of the day, that I +should be unable to do any thing, and that I couldn't spare the time. So +I decided not to smoke until I had leisure enough to be ill for a while. + +And now, with a throbbing heart, I turned my steps towards the +cabin-door, and entered the gangway. There were two or three doors on +the sides of the narrow passage, which I did not care to open at +present; and so I passed on to the central door that led into the main +room. I had feared that I might be startled by the sight of dead bodies +or skeletons here; but there was nothing repulsive to be seen, nothing +that looked like disorder or confusion. There stood the centre-table, +with a few books and pamphlets lying on it, and two or three chairs +drawn around, and a large lamp suspended above. There was the grate, +containing a few half-consumed embers; there was the compass, swinging +between the stern-windows. A nice Brussels carpet was under my feet; and +there were three doors on either side of the cabin, opening into the +staterooms. The vessel appeared to have been a first-class merchantman, +fitted to carry half a dozen passengers; and how such a vessel as this +ever found its way into these northern seas was a mystery. I just +glanced for a moment into these rooms, and saw there trunks and valises, +and all the usual articles of the toilet, mirrors, beds, and bedding, +and all other things expected in a respectable apartment. Then I visited +the captain's room and the mate's; the pantry, store-room, etc.; and all +the supplies and utensils seemed to be abundant and of the best quality. +I tried to find the log-book, but that was missing; and from this I +inferred that the captain had made his escape in safety, taking it with +him. This thought gave me pleasure. + +No danger now of my suffering for want of the comforts or luxuries of +life; I could dress elegantly, sleep magnificently, and fare +sumptuously. I selected the captain's room for my private apartment; and +having no luggage to transport, it required but little time for me to +take possession. + +The sun had now sunk as near the horizon as it ever did in that region +during the month of July, and what we called evening at home drew near. +I prepared my cup of tea in the cabin, and spread my supper on the +centre-table; then went out to take a little stroll on the deck. I +closed the door of the caboose-house, and, for the sake of appearances, +fastened it; then went up to the bell, and struck the hour, just to +gratify a sentimental feeling that I had. Then I retired to the cabin +for the night; and in order to make it seem snug and cosey, I dropped +the curtains over the windows, and lighted the hanging lamp. Kindling a +fire in the grate, I sat down at the table and tried to read. But +situated as I was, I found it impossible to fix my mind upon the book; +and so I threw myself down upon the lounge to think over what had +happened, and speculate as to the probabilities of the future. It may +seem strange to some persons; but, with all my comforts about me, I felt +more homesick than I did when I was lying on the ice in my bearskin, or +when I was poking about in the bowels of the earth, trying to see how I +could get out. There was nothing to occupy my body; and that, I suppose, +was one reason why my mind worked as it did. At about ten o'clock, I +went to bed, and, after tossing about uneasily for an hour or two, +managed to fall asleep. + +When I awoke in the morning, it took me some time to remember where I +was. I thought, at first, that I was at home, and could hear the birds +singing by the window; and I believe that I called out "Bob!" once or +twice before I was fairly roused. But soon the real state of the case +came back to me; and, going into the staterooms, I hunted round until I +found a suit of good clean clothes that would fit me, and dressed myself +for the day. The clothes that I had worn were now so dirty and torn that +I was very glad to get rid of them. After breakfasting heartily,--and an +excellent cup of hot coffee I had that morning,--I began to think what I +should do with myself during the day. I had no longer to go tramping +about in search of food; and so I thought that I would take a little +stroll over my farm,--as I called the acre of loam that lay by the side +of my abode,--and see how the crops were looking. I must confess that +the vegetation was not much advanced; and yet I could see, here and +there, little green shoots springing out of the earth, indicating that +the summer sun was beginning to have its effect upon the soil. It then +occurred to me how pleasant it would be to look out upon a greensward in +that icy spot; and remembering to have seen in the store-room a canvas +bag marked "grass-seed," and a rake standing there, I went for them, and +passed the forenoon in agricultural pursuits. In a few hours, I had +quite a patch of ground nicely raked over, and sown for grass. In less +than a fortnight, it had sprouted beautifully, and I began to be quite +proud of my arctic lawn. + +All the time, however, I was wondering how I should find my way back to +the abodes of man, and how soon I might expect to start for home. I had +presumed, that, as the season advanced, I should begin to drift +southward; and I hoped, that, before the winter closed in again, I might +reach those parts of the sea which are frequented by vessels, and so +find rescue. But whether I was moving or not, it was impossible as yet +to tell, as there was no fixed object in sight by which a movement could +be measured. I felt very certain that the iceberg was not grounded, +because there would be, occasionally, a quivering of the whole mass, +which showed that it was floating on the water. It was also growing +warmer and warmer every day, which was a favorable symptom. If I had +known how to use the sextant or quadrant, I could have settled the +matter at once. + +Before long, I was satisfied, from the change in the appearance of the +ocean and of the sun, that I was indeed moving rapidly away from the +north pole; and the fact that I was afloat was settled conclusively by a +very alarming circumstance. I had observed for a day or two, that the +hanging-lamp did not appear to be entirely perpendicular; and, in +walking the deck, I had the sensation that I was not treading on a +perfectly level surface. Searching the mate's room, I found a +spirit-level, and laid it on the floor. There was no doubt of the fact: +the berg was undoubtedly tilting on one side. I then remembered, that, +not unfrequently, these mountains of ice rolled over, and made a +complete somerset. This was now, sooner or later, going to happen. What +could I do? I found that the ice, on the side that was beginning to +incline towards the sea, was much higher than elsewhere, and that this +superior weight was gradually destroying the equilibrium of the berg. I +also observed, that, between this elevation and the more level region, +there was a narrow, deep fissure, extending almost entirely across the +line of the lofty projection of ice. + +A great thought now flashed upon me. I remembered to have seen on the +deck, the day after my arrival, two or three casks, labelled "Dangerous! +Handle very carefully!! Nitro-glycerine!!!" These casks I at once +removed to a safe distance, marking with an upright stick the place +where they were deposited. Nitro-glycerine!--I said to myself. It was +that that blew up the "The European" at Panama. I remember it because I +sold three hundred and nine papers by crying "Great Explosion." A +newsboy knows something. And nitro-glycerine will go off if you hit it +hard enough. + +In the captain's room, there were several large, metallic flasks, made +very broad and flat, as I suppose for the purpose of better stowage in +his room. What they had formerly contained, I could only judge by the +smell; but they were empty now. This, then, was the experiment that I +would try,--filling these flasks with nitro-glycerine, I would lower +them into a crevice in the ice. Then, if I could, I must make a block +of ice fall on them. + +In two or three hours, my preparations were concluded. The flasks were +just large enough to fit snugly in the chasm. Above them, the precipice +hung over a little. Half-hidden by the bulwarks of the ship, I fired +three bullets from the captain's gun into the projecting mass. Nothing +fell. I loaded her again,--fired again, and a great block of ice keeled +over and slid down. As fast did I leap down stairs into the cabin, as if +I should be safe there. As I landed, I felt the great iceberg tremble; +then came a sharp, quick, terrible crash, as if forty thunders had +broken all together right over my head, and the great hill of ice sank +grandly and slowly into the ocean below. For a minute or two, I could +hear the roar of the waters as they opened to receive the huge mass, and +the berg rocked as if in a great storm; then all was still again. I +rushed back to my cabin, laid the spirit-level on the floor, and the +little bubble stopped right in the middle of the tube. The danger was +over. + +Another week passed; and there was no longer any room to doubt that I +_was_ moving, and in the right direction. At the pole, there was never a +breath of wind; but now it blew quite strong. The compass began to show +signs of vitality; and, at midnight, I could see some of the brightest +of the stars. The sun dropped nearer and nearer the horizon every +evening, and it was growing uncomfortably warm at mid-day. As I was now +getting some information from the sun as to the points of the compass, +I set up a vane on the deck, in order to find out, from day to day, the +direction of the wind. This put another idea into my head. Couldn't I do +something to help the old berg along? Why couldn't the spare masts and +sails, that lay along the sides of the deck, be put to some use? The +foremast of the ship was broken off about fifteen feet from the level of +the deck, and I went to work to splice on a jury-mast. It was slow and +pretty hard work. I had to arrange the blocks and tackles in the most +scientific manner, in order to lift the heavy timber to its place; and +it required a great deal of strength to bring the ropes around the fore +and jury-mast, so as to bind them securely together. I then managed to +rig a yard to the mast, and, in the course of another day, had quite a +respectable sail set. The day after, I got up a jib, and then crowned +the whole by hoisting the American flag to the top of the mast. I did +not keep this flying all the time, but reserved it for great occasions. + +Here then, was a novel sight,--a great iceberg _under sail_, and +protected by the stars and stripes. Whether it helped us along or not, I +am unable to say: but it was a satisfaction for me to feel that I had +done what I could; and it gave me pleasure to go off a little distance, +and look at the extraordinary spectacle. I could not help laughing to +think what the old salts would say, when I got down amongst the whalers +and explorers, at the sight of _an iceberg under sail_! + +I have nothing more to tell of my adventures in the arctic seas. About +the middle of September, I had reached the more frequented parts of the +ocean, and every day was on the lookout for some friendly barque, to +liberate me from my dreary solitude. For months I had not heard the +sound of a human voice, and I began to long for the society of my +fellow-men. Every morning I posted myself, with a spy-glass, on the +highest peak of the berg, searching the horizon for a sail. My situation +on the deck was becoming every hour more and more precarious. The +melting of the ice underneath had already caused the stern to incline +very decidedly towards the inclined plane that led down to the ocean; +and I felt that the slightest jar might, at any time, precipitate the +whole concern, myself included, into the sea. I suppose, indeed, that +nothing but the counteracting influence of the sails, which filled in +the opposite direction, had prevented this catastrophe. + +At last, after many a long and weary watch, I descried, in the far-off +distance, a sail; but the vessel moved off towards the horizon, and was +soon lost to sight. It was a bitter disappointment; and still I thought +that wherever _one_ ship was sailing, others would be likely to come in +sight before long. I kept the flag flying now all the time, and hardly +ventured to sleep at all, lest some vessel might pass by unnoticed. On +the twenty-fifth of September, as I woke from a short and broken +slumber, I descried, not more than two miles off, a ship, heading +directly for the berg. As soon as she was near enough for the signal to +be observed, I lowered and hoisted my flag five or six times in quick +succession; and, to my joy, I saw the signal answered. It was all right +now: the only question to be solved was, as to the manner in which I +would get on board the vessel. I anticipated that they would not venture +to bring the ship alongside of the berg, but would probably put out a +long-boat for my rescue. As soon as that came within hailing distance, I +would establish communication with the crew; and, between us all, I did +not doubt but some way would be found for me to escape. In a short +time, as I had foreseen, the ship lay to; and the boat came off, and was +rowed to the foot of the inclined plane. I never saw a more astonished +set of men in my life. They were staring at me and my extraordinary +craft, as if their eyes would start from the sockets; and the coxswain +rose and shouted,-- + +"Ahoy, up there! who are you?" + +"John Whopper," I replied, "eldest son of the Widow Whopper, now +residing in Roxbury, Mass., U. S. of America." + +"Gracious me!" cried one of the men, "I know Widow Whopper." + +"I hope you left her well?" + +"Much as usual," the sailor replied. + +I was very glad to hear it. + +"Where are you from?" shouted the coxswain again; "and where did you +get your rigging?" + +"I will tell you when I get aboard." + +"Come aboard, then." + +"I don't exactly see how to manage it." + +"Come down the plane, and we will catch you." + +It was too steep and slippery for me to do that; but, on the instant, +another bright thought arose. "Pull off a hundred feet or so," I cried, +"and I will be along." + +As soon as I saw that they had rowed to a safe distance, I went to the +mast, and suddenly let the sail go. In an instant, I felt the deck +quiver; and it began to move, very slowly at first, and then with a +tremendous rush, right down the inclined plane. I grasped a rope with +all my might, and steadied myself for the shock that must come when my +craft plunged into the sea. But there was no shock at all; gently as a +ship slides on her cradle, when launched into the water, the old deck +glided off upon the waves, and in five minutes I found myself safely on +board the long-boat. No sooner, however, had I left the strange craft, +than it began to sink slowly into the depths; and the last thing that I +saw was the American flag floating on the bosom of the deep. + +What was said to me when I reached the ship, and what I said, I have not +time to relate; only I didn't tell every thing. + +The vessel proved to be a whaler, bound for New Bedford; where I +arrived in good condition, and took the cars for Roxbury, via the Boston +and Providence Road, _passing through Canton_. + +I found all well at home, and very much relieved by my arrival. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] It will probably occur to the reader, that some one of Johnny's +adult friends has touched up the style a little along here. J. W. says +that this is true. + +[2] John informs the editor that he never wrote a word of the last +lines, and that he thinks it about time for him to take the bellows +again. + +[3] Pronounced _gunnell_: "The uppermost bend which finishes the upper +works of the hull, and from which the upper guns, if the vessel carry +any, are pointed." + + + + + THE END. + + + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | Transcriber's note:-- | + | | + | Italics are represented in this text version by underscores. | + | | + | | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Whopper, by Thomas March Clark + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN WHOPPER *** + +***** This file should be named 30463.txt or 30463.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/4/6/30463/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4 and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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