Steve Young | Page 4

by the many islands and fast currents of the west coast of Scotland, and then across to Norway and up through the fiords to Nordoe.
A couple of hours later, as the occupants of the Hvalross lounged about enjoying the delicious sunshine of the short northern summer, and those fresh to the coast gazed admiringly at the towering cliffs, snow-capped mountains, and thundering waterfalls which plunged headlong into the pure waters of the fiord, which reflected all like a mirror, a heavy boat pushed off from the wharf, and Captain Hendal climbed on deck. He was followed by four sturdy-looking descendants of the Vikings, clear-eyed, fair-haired, massive-headed men, who looked ready and willing to go through any danger, and who one and all declared themselves eager to start, on one condition--that they should not be expected to stoke the engine fire. This was conceded instantly. A few questions were then asked by Captain Hendal as to the stores and materiel on board the vessel; and it being found that everything likely to be wanted had been thought of and provided, and that every possible place beside the bunkers was crammed with coal, the Norwegian captain took his leave with the new recruits.
That evening the men were back on board with their kits; quite a crowd of people were about the wharf, consequent upon the new interest for them which the vessel possessed, and an hour later, steam being up, the anchor was raised, and the sturdy-looking grey vessel glided away through the calm waters of the fiord amidst a loud burst of cheers.
Northward ho! for the region of the midnight sun.
CHAPTER THREE.
PREPARATIONS.
"I say," said Steve some hours later, "isn't it getting late?"
"Yes, very," said the captain; "go and turn in."
"But it's so light, sir! It was light enough coming up here, but--what time is it?"
"Eleven--past."
"What! Why, I thought it could only be about eight."
"I suppose so, boy," said the captain, who was looking ahead for the opening through which the Hvalross was to thread her way out from the fiord into the ocean; "but where is your geography?"
"At home."
"Yes, yes; but I don't mean your book, my lad. I mean the geography and knowledge in your head. Don't you remember that the farther we go north at this time of year the lighter it becomes, till, not many miles farther, it will be all daylight?"
"Yes, I remember now," cried Steve; "but it's rather puzzling, all that about the midnight sun. Doesn't the sun really set at all?"
"No," said Captain Marsham, smiling at the lad's puzzled expression.
"Then what does it do?" said the lad, gazing hard in the direction of the north-west, where there was still a warm glow.
"Keeps up above the horizon."
"But that's what puzzles me," said Steve.
"Well, I hardly know how to explain it to you, my boy, unless you can grasp it if I ask you to suppose you are standing on the North Pole."
"Yes, I understand that. Wouldn't the sun set there?"
"No; but at midsummer day it would be at a certain height above the horizon."
"Yes; but how would it be at midsummer night?"
"Just at the same height in the sky, going apparently round the heavens."
"And would it keep on like that, always at the same height night and day?"
"Yes, for one day only. The next day it would be nearly the same height, then a little lower; and so it would go on becoming a little and a little lower, and, as it were, screwing slowly down till it was close to the horizon; then would come the days when it was only half seen, then not seen at all."
"And after that?"
"Darkness and winter, Steve, till it had gone as far south as it could go and begun to return. Do you understand now?"
"I think so," said Steve, but rather dubiously. "It's much too big to get hold of all at once. But just tell me this, and then I'll go to bed, sir. As we shan't be right at the North Pole, how long will it be before we see the sun in the middle of the night?"
"That depends, my lad. If this breeze keeps up, we shall hoist sail, save our coal, and pass round the North Cape at midnight, and then we shall have a good three months' sunshine in which to load our tanks with oil, have plenty of sport, and I hope--best of all--find our friends alive and little the worse for passing through an arctic winter in the snow. Now that's quite enough for you to think of for one night. Down below."
Stephen Young left the deck after giving a longing look round at the lovely sky, and feeling as if he had more to think of than he could well manage. Ten minutes later he was lying in his comfortable