Steve Young

“ A cry rose from the deck, and Steve Young in that brief moment felt that all was over, and that he was struck a violent blow in the ribs. Next moment he swung against the starboard shrouds to which he clung, feeling sick and giddy with pain, but awaking to the fact that the big Norwegian sailor had gripped his jacket on the right side and taken up a little fold of flesh as well. The pain was keen for a few moments, but partly ceased as the man thrust his other hand, by which he had held on between the ratlines, and took a good hold of his waistband. ”

“ The young men of the New Race are born of a mating of the East and West. They are naturally intolerant of partitions. Steve is one of these. He isn't a spirit alone. He is a body and brain. He has stayed awake through the full night and day. He sees the planet in one piece. He has crossed all the rivers. He knows the young men of America. He is one of them. He loves America because he knows the rest of the world. He has friends among the Chinese young [110] men—among the young men of Russia and India. ”

“ We shall pass on now to more stirring times in the life of Steve, who has grown into a strong young man of twenty-seven years of age now. He has always borne in mind the dying words of his father, and has never neglected his weekly letter to his mother and sisters, or his monthly contribution towards their house-keeping at home. ”

“ I believe I'd have gone an' seen you safe there myself, but I'm goin' to look after cattle down on the Huerfano.'
'You are good to me, Steve!' cried Jack, throwing his arms round the cowboy's neck and hugging him. 'I thought you'd save me somehow, an' I do love you so.'
'There! That'll do, young un,' said Steve good-naturedly. 'Go home an' keep quiet, for if that woman gets wind o' our plans, it'll be all up, for she ain't goin' to give up a slavey like you. But, look here! How shall I let you know if he'll take you?' as Jack was turning to go. ”

“ In his own original way, also, Young tried to put heart into him. "You see, old man," he said, "you've just got t' pull through. Think how d——d ashamed o' yourself you'd feel after you was dead when you had t' tell all th' folks in heaven that you was killed by nothin' better'n a mis'rable chump of an Injun! That was what bothered poor old Steve Hollis when he was handin' in his checks—'t least it was th' same general sort of idea. I guess you never knew Steve, did you, Rayburn? He was an old railroader—had been a-workin' on th' Old Colony one way and another for more'n twenty years. ”

“ I cannot tell you how I appreciate your kindness."
"Purely a matter of business, my lad. I see in you the making of an excellent man for the company. We are looking for young men with your determination and grit."
As Steve passed out through the reception room the office boy stepped in front of him.
"I'll lick you the first time I catch you outside," announced the guardian of the door.
"Please don't," answered Steve. "Somebody might get hurt. Besides, I am not a fighter. Good afternoon." ”

“ Steve responded, nettled. “Maybe I have reason for goin’ this way.”
“That’s what I’m thinkin’,” the bearded man answered, and Steve sensed the menacing note in his voice. “But you may have reason for takin’ the other trail yet. Nobody lives in these hills, and they don’t like strangers! Be warned, young feller, and don’t git into somethin’ you don’t know nothin’ about.” ”

“ The blood flushed up into Steve’s cheeks, and he turned away, walking aft to watch the grey gulls which seemed to have arrived all at once, and were flying about in quite a crowd, making darts down to the surface to seize some fragment that was floating, amidst querulous screaming and the beating of wings. ”

“ But the intense excitement produced by the change to warmth and sunshine seemed to border on a kind of rollicking madness; and bubbling over with fun Skene turned quite mutinous, barking as if derisively in response to every call, and evading Steve as he chased him, the boy running along the deck and making dashes at the dog, who avoided him by his superior activity, till, getting at last quite close, Steve made a snatch at his quarry’s hind leg and grasped it firmly. ”

“ The captain gave his head a nod.
“Up with you then, my lad. Shall I send a man to lash you to the rigging?”
“Yes, sir, when I ask,” cried Steve: and taking the bundle of pieces of wood under his arm he began to mount steadily.
“Pass the word for the cook,” cried the mate angrily; and as Steve reached the top he paused to rest a moment, and looked down to see that the cook had come out of the galley and presented himself before his officers.
“Here!” cried the mate, “take this boy, cook, and set him to peel potatoes and scour your pots. He’ll never make a sailor.” ”

“ Why, it’s grander than anything I can imagine.”
“Yes; grand enough to crush up the Hvalross like an eggshell,” muttered the mate.
“Yes; but you’ll take care it does not!” cried Steve, smiling. “She would go to pieces on rocks, but you and the captain will mind that she does not.”
The mate’s grim, weary face brightened into a smile, and he clapped one of his fur-gloved hands on Steve’s shoulder.
“Bravo, boy!” he said. “It’s a fine thing to be your age, full of hope and confidence. Yes, we’ll do our best not to get crushed; but it’s a very awkward position to be in.” ”

“ It was of no use to tell the crew that the end of the darkness was coming, for when January was out it appeared to be black as ever, and they had February to pass through. Steve’s efforts fell flat now, and the men became worse, while even the captain grew heartsick as he looked forward to the months of terrible inaction.
“Nothing but a miracle can save us,” he said at last. “I am but human. I have done everything I can. Heaven helps those who help themselves, Steve lad; and Heaven knows we have helped ourselves.” ”

“ That was visible directly in the ruffling up of the thick frill and a low, deep growl; but the next minute Skene gave a short bark, and curled his tail over his nose again, as if quite satisfied that he was only being played with, and Steve bore back the trophy.
“Knows better,” said Johannes, smiling in his grave way; “dogs have got more sense than we think for.” ”

“ I have had no doubt about it for weeks; neither has the captain, as you have seen by the great store of food he has buried in the ice.”
“Well, it will be a change,” said Steve after a pause. “I suppose it will not be so very cold?”
The Norseman laughed.
“Colder than you think for, sir; but not too cold to bear if you take care. You must not go away into the mountains by yourself.”
“Couldn’t help it if a bear were after me,” said Steve, laughing. “But I shall take care. I say, though, tell me about the darkness: does the sun go right out of sight?” ”

“ It is not so much an act of strength to dart a harpoon into a soft thing like a white whale, but of practice and knack. The shaft of the harpoon is so long and heavy, that if it is directed well and with good aim it curves over and falls with its own weight as well.”
“Then you will let me try!” cried Steve eagerly.
“If the captain is willing, of course you shall. I could sooner teach you to strike a whale than one of your sailors—Hamish or Andra.” ”

“ How cold it was! They ceased to study their instruments; for, like the men, they seemed, Steve said, to have given up in despair of being able to go down low enough to register the number of degrees.
In spite of all efforts, Andrew had gone back to his bunk, where he lay day after day cuddling his pipes, and growing more and more despondent. Watty also went back, though Steve tried in every way to interest him in sports—running, jumping, and the like. He wanted to “gang hame to his mither,” he said; and when strong men grew so despondent, it was useless to blame a boy. ”

“ Only one thought was common to all, and that was to reach the ice. The provisions which had been hastily brought on deck lay where they had been placed amongst the remains of the powdery snow which had not melted in the sun’s rays; and even then in those terrible moments—so strangely are little petty things mixed up with the most momentous in our lives—Steve thought to himself that when the two sides of their rapidly narrowing canal did come together, crushing the ship, not a man would stop to pick up anything to help keep himself alive.
“Mr Steve—doctor!” ”

“ The doctor and Captain Marsham, tired of watching the bear, had started off with their pieces, leaving Steve with the two Norsemen, so that the lad’s last remark was addressed to his companions.
“No,” said Jakobsen, smiling; “the sport has hardly begun.”
“Right,” said Johannes. “Why, Mr Steve, you do not think that treacherous great brute would take all that trouble for nothing, do you?”
“I don’t know, I do not understand bears,” replied Steve; “I only say look at him. Why, Johannes, if we had had the boat through, what a capture we might have made—the bear and plenty of walrus!” ”

“ You’re worse off now than you were a couple of hours ago.”
“Worse off?” cried Steve.
“Of course. You have a dozen hungry men to provide for.”
“But you’ve come to save us, and brought us hope.”
“Where is it then, boy?” cried Captain Young. “You all had as much hope as we had—far more; but you gave up and smothered it. We haven’t come to save you; we want you to save us.”
“I don’t understand you,” said Steve.
“Then I’ll make myself plain, my lad. You have a sound ship here in this fiord, well provisioned, and with plenty of fuel, besides having a doctor to take care of you. ”

“ Steve was ready first, and went out on deck, to see the men coming up from the forecastle, looking big and uncouth in their hooded fur coats and mittens; but no one spoke as they stood there in the gloom waiting for orders. Steve peered about, but could not see the face he sought, and he turned to Hamish, who was close at hand.
“Where’s Watty?” he said.
“In her bunk, sir,” said the man surlily.
“In his bunk? Why didn’t you rouse him up? It will do him good to come. Andra isn’t here, either. He ought to try and walk as far as we’re going to-day.” ”

“ For answer Steve worked himself from the inner to the outer slope of the shrouds just below the cross-bars, and then thrust his legs through and held on, waiting for the fluttering nervous sensation which had attacked him to pass off.
“Ahoy, there!” came from the deck in the captain’s stern tones. “I’ll send up a line; make it fast round his chest, and lower him down.”
These words sent the blood flushing to the boy’s cheeks, for the idea of being lowered down like a bale or cask sounded too degrading.
“No, no!” he cried. “It’s all right, sir; I can come down. Only slipped,” he added. ”

“ Still there was one flash of hope as he crept on, drawing himself over the ice crags on hands and knees. He had looked back below him at his pursuers, and his heart leaped, for there was only one. At first he could not believe it true, but a second look back confirmed the first impression. One of the bears had given up the pursuit; but the other was as persevering as ever. But it was hopeful, and gave Steve fresh energy; for if one was tired out, it was possible to weary the other. ”

“ Suppose you made up your mind to sail south to-morrow?”
“Well, we couldn’t go for the ice.”
“Exactly, sir; and the walrus boats couldn’t sail up here for the ice.”
“Ugh! it is cold,” said Steve with a shiver. “I wonder what the glass says. Wish I’d looked.”
“It would not have been a fair test, sir; it is warmer down in the cabin. You are not unwell, only you feel the chill just waking up from sleep.”
“Yes, I feel better now. How the stars shine!”
“You’ll see them brighter by-and-by, sir,” said Johannes. “Have you got anything hard in your pocket?” ”

“ From here they went forward to the forecastle, the hatch of which gaped widely open; and as they stood below it at the bottom of the sloping deck, Steve felt a strange sensation of shrinking, and as if he would prefer to leave any secrets which the cabin might hide in peace. Captain Marsham felt, too, something of the kind, and he said a few words in a low voice to the doctor.
“Yes,” replied the latter, “perhaps so, poor fellows; but we ought to see.” ”

“ I know I’m only a boy, and can’t pretend to have a man’s strength; but I should like to try. Don’t laugh at me, please.”
“No, I was only smiling, my lad. Why should I laugh at one who is young because he wishes to try to be brave and manly and shows a desire to learn?”
“Oh, thank you!” cried Steve eagerly; “that is what I do feel, but people are so ready to banter and laugh at me.”
“It is foolish of them,” said Johannes, “unless it is when a boy is what you call conceited and self-satisfied, and thinks that he is a man too soon.”
“I don’t do that, indeed!” cried Steve. ”

“ The doctor nodded, and, to Steve’s great delight, they pressed on, picked up the next deer, and then all at once Steve handed his gun to Johannes and started off at a trot toward the valley by which they had come.
“Hi! Where’s he going?” cried the doctor, as the men loaded the sledge.
“I don’t know,” said the captain. “Yes, I do: he has run on to light a fire where we found the coal, so as to cook some of the meat.”
“Yes, that’s it,” said the doctor. “I hope he’ll have a good fire. One gets horribly hungry out here.” ”

“ Steve, too, had eagerly raised his double gun to fire, and felt quite resentful at being ordered not to draw trigger; and he stood now watching the great, thick-legged creature with its long, silky, cream-coloured fur hanging low down, the animal being as big in body as an ox, but with small, sharp, ferrety-looking head.
“But if the gentleman fires and hits, sir,” said Jakobsen eagerly, “it will stop him and make him angry; then we can kill him with the spears.”
“Look out!” cried the captain; “the other. Hah! Good dog!” ”

“ Then Johannes sent forth another of his sonorous roars, and all laid on their oars and listened, when, so softly as to be almost imperceptible as the men held their breath, there came a low hail, which grew fainter and fainter and then died away.
“That was the Hvalross, I’m sure!” cried Steve excitedly, as the boat’s course was altered once more.
“Yes; and she’s hanging about to find us,” said the captain. “Cheer up, my lads. She won’t go far without trying back; she can’t be far away.” ”