ARQTIQ:
A Study of the Marvels at the North Pole
Saying “I will go with thee
To yon isles of mystery.”
Always fond of the marvelous, I conceived a strongdesire to go to the North Pole.
To obviate the dangers of the trip I invented acoach, that was also ship and balloon. Its silken canopyis inflatable to strong wings or wide sails. Its wheelsare wide rimmed, to glide over snow, and paneled forwater paddles. When it is finished and stored I selectsome friends to accompany me. My most personal lovedones. A volatile fair-haired gent—my husband, and afair-haired little maiden friend, sit on the front seat. Onthe back seat are sitting my aged father and myself, ourblack eyes snapping with expectation.
Waving my hands to the few gathered to see us off, Isay: “This undertaking is of desire to gain knowledge.Success, surmounting all obstacles will take us to thesummit of the round earth, where, ages past as agesfuture will accord us first record.”
Charley turns levers to start, as little Mae’s mammasays: “You will be the Mascot, Mae Searles. But I donot think you will go very far,” dubiously.
“You will change your mind, mamma, when Ibring you home a little bear,” makes us laugh.
“I will be glad to get you for my little bear.”
“All the rest of us,” I answered, “will take careof her.”
“No doubt,” she replies, “as far as you go in yourodd rig,” facetiously.
Our wheels turn slowly and silently. Then with alow tinkling of the strain, “Good Bye, Sweet Heart,”Mae had slipped her music box in one, wound to thatharmony.
We are Californians and take the C. P. railroad forour eastward route, our wheels being grooved to fit thetrack. Speeding merrily, we give vent to our imaginationsof coming events.
“Will there really be a pole, Auntie?”
“That is for us to find out, dear. I sometimesthink there is a stem there covered with ice, that holdsthe earth to an apple planet tree.”
“But the astronomers would have seen the tree,”argues my father.
“They could not look so far. Only as far as theother star apples. May not the Milky Way be abranch?” I suggest.
We now become aware that a train is approachingon the single track that is hanging over the grade on thecanyon side. We have no choice but to unfurl ourwings and rise in the air, as the engineer wildly blowshis whistle. Brushing the pine tree tops, we cross overthe peak and seek the track on the other side of it, selectingan opening in a thicket for that purpose.
Finding it occupied by m