The Captain of the Polestar and Other Tales

By Arthur Conan Doyle

.September 11th.--Lat. 81 degrees 40' N.; long. 2 degrees E. Still
lying-to amid enormous ice fields. The one which stretches away to
the north of us, and to which our ice-anchor is attached, cannot be
smaller than an English county. To the right and left unbroken
sheets extend to the horizon. This morning the mate reported that
there were signs of pack ice to the southward. Should this form of
sufficient thickness to bar our return, we shall be in a position
of danger, as the food, I hear, is already running somewhat short.
It is late in the season, and the nights are beginning to reappear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781329882591

Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer and physician. He is the creator of the Sherlock Holmes character, writing his debut appearance in A Study in Scarlet. Doyle wrote notable books in the fantasy and science fiction genres, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels.

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THE

CAPTAINOFTHEPOLESTAR

ANDOTHERTALES.

SIRARTHURCONANDOYLE

PREFACE

FortheuseofsomeofthefollowingTalesIam  indebtedtothecourtesyof"London

A.CONANDOYLE,M.D.

CONTENTS.

THECAPTAINOFTHEPOLE-STAR

J.HABAKUKJEPHSON'SSTATEMENT

THEGREATKEINPLATZEXPERIMENT

THEMANFROMARCHANGEL

THATLITTLESQUAREBOX

JOHNHUXFORD'SHIATUS

ALITERARYMOSAIC

JOHNBARRINGTONCOWLES

THEPARSONOFJACKMAN'SGULCH

THERINGOFTHOTH

THECAPTAINOFTHEPOLE-STAR.

[BeinganextractfromthesingularjournalofJOHNM`ALISTERRAY,  studentofmedicine.]

September11th.--Lat.81degrees40'N.;long.2degreesE.Still  lying-toamidenormousicefields.Theonewhichstretchesawayto  thenorthofus,andtowhichourice-anchorisattached,cannotbe  smallerthananEnglishcounty.Totherightandleftunbroken  sheetsextendtothehorizon.Thismorningthematereportedthat  thereweresignsofpackicetothesouthward.Shouldthisformof  sufficientthicknesstobarourreturn,weshallbeinaposition  ofdanger,asthefood,Ihear,isalreadyrunningsomewhatshort.

Itislateintheseason,andthenightsarebeginningtoreappear.

ThismorningIsawastartwinklingjustoverthefore-yard,the  firstsincethebeginningofMay.Thereisconsiderablediscontent  amongthecrew,manyofwhomareanxioustogetbackhometobein

timefortheherringseason,whenlabouralwayscommandsahigh  priceupontheScotchcoast.Asyettheirdispleasureisonly  signifiedbysullencountenancesandblacklooks,butIheardfrom  thesecondmatethisafternoonthattheycontemplatedsendinga  deputationtotheCaptaintoexplaintheirgrievance.Imuchdoubt  howhewillreceiveit,asheisamanoffiercetemper,andvery  sensitiveaboutanythingapproachingtoaninfringementofhis  rights.Ishallventureafterdinnertosayafewwordstohim  uponthesubject.Ihavealwaysfoundthathewilltoleratefrom  mewhathewouldresentfromanyothermemberofthecrew.

AmsterdamIsland,atthenorth-westcornerofSpitzbergen,is  visibleuponourstarboardquarter--aruggedlineofvolcanic  rocks,intersectedbywhiteseams,whichrepresentglaciers.Itis  curioustothinkthatatthepresentmomentthereisprobablyno  humanbeingnearertousthantheDanishsettlementsinthesouth  ofGreenland--agoodninehundredmilesasthecrowflies.A  captaintakesagreatresponsibilityuponhimselfwhenheriskshis  vesselundersuchcircumstances.Nowhalerhaseverremainedin  theselatitudestillsoadvancedaperiodoftheyear.

9P.M,--IhavespokentoCaptainCraigie,andthoughtheresulthas  beenhardlysatisfactory,Iamboundtosaythathelistenedto  whatIhadtosayveryquietlyandevendeferentially.WhenIhad  finishedheputonthatairofirondeterminationwhichIhave  frequentlyobserveduponhisface,andpacedrapidlybackwardsand  forwardsacrossthenarrowcabinforsomeminutes.AtfirstI  fearedthatIhadseriouslyoffendedhim,buthedispelledtheidea  bysittingdownagain,andputtinghishanduponmyarmwitha  gesturewhichalmostamountedtoacaress.Therewasadepthof  tendernesstooinhiswilddarkeyeswhichsurprisedme  considerably.Lookhere,Doctor,hesaid,I'msorryIevertook  you--Iamindeed--andIwouldgivefiftypoundsthisminutetosee  youstandingsafeupontheDundeequay.It'shitormisswithme  thistime.Therearefishtothenorthofus.Howdareyoushake  yourhead,sir,whenItellyouIsawthemblowingfromthe  masthead?--thisinasuddenburstoffury,thoughIwasnot  consciousofhavingshownanysignsofdoubt."Two-and-twentyfish  inasmanyminutesasIamalivingman,andnotoneunderten  foot.[1]Now,Doctor,doyouthinkIcanleavethecountrywhen  thereisonlyoneinfernalstripoficebetweenmeandmyfortune?

Ifitcameontoblowfromthenorthto-morrowwecouldfillthe  shipandbeawaybeforethefrostcouldcatchus.Ifitcameonto  blowfromthesouth--well,Isupposethemenarepaidforrisking  theirlives,andasformyselfitmattersbutlittletome,forI  havemoretobindmetotheotherworldthantothisone.I  confessthatIamsorryforyou,though.IwishIhadoldAngus

Taitwhowaswithmelastvoyage,forhewasamanthatwouldnever  bemissed,andyou--yousaidoncethatyouwereengaged,didyou  not?"

[1]Awhaleismeasuredamongwhalersnotbythelengthofits  body,butbythelengthofitswhalebone.

Yes,Ianswered,snappingthespringofthelocketwhichhung  frommywatch-chain,andholdingupthelittlevignetteofFlora.

Curseyou!heyelled,springingoutofhisseat,withhisvery  beardbristlingwithpassion.Whatisyourhappinesstome?What  haveItodowithherthatyoumustdangleherphotographbeforemy  eyes?Ialmostthoughtthathewasabouttostrikemeinthe  frenzyofhisrage,butwithanotherimprecationhedashedopenthe  doorofthecabinandrushedoutupondeck,leavingmeconsiderably  astonishedathisextraordinaryviolence.Itisthefirsttime  thathehasevershownmeanythingbutcourtesyandkindness.I  canhearhimpacingexcitedlyupanddownoverheadasIwritethese  lines.

Ishouldliketogiveasketchofthecharacterofthisman,butit  seemspresumptuoustoattemptsuchathinguponpaper,whenthe  ideainmyownmindisatbestavagueanduncertainone.Several  timesIhavethoughtthatIgraspedthecluewhichmightexplain  it,butonlytobedisappointedbyhispresentinghimselfinsome  newlightwhichwouldupsetallmyconclusions.Itmaybethatno  humaneyebutmyownshalleverrestupontheselines,yetasa  psychologicalstudyIshallattempttoleavesomerecordofCaptain

NicholasCraigie.

Aman'soutercasegenerallygivessomeindicationofthesoul  within.TheCaptainistallandwell-formed,withdark,handsome  face,andacuriouswayoftwitchinghislimbs,whichmayarise  fromnervousness,orbesimplyanoutcomeofhisexcessiveenergy.

Hisjawandwholecastofcountenanceismanlyandresolute,but  theeyesarethedistinctivefeatureofhisface.Theyareofthe  verydarkesthazel,brightandeager,withasingularmixtureof  recklessnessintheirexpression,andofsomethingelsewhichI  havesometimesthoughtwasmorealliedwithhorrorthananyother  emotion.Generallytheformerpredominated,butonoccasions,and  moreparticularlywhenhewasthoughtfullyinclined,thelookof  fearwouldspreadanddeepenuntilitimpartedanewcharacterto  hiswholecountenance.Itisatthesetimesthatheismost  subjecttotempestuousfitsofanger,andheseemstobeawareof  it,forIhaveknownhimlockhimselfupsothatnoonemight  approachhimuntilhisdarkhourwaspassed.Hesleepsbadly,and

Ihaveheardhimshoutingduringthenight,buthiscabinissome  littledistancefrommine,andIcouldneverdistinguishthewords  whichhesaid.

Thisisonephaseofhischaracter,andthemostdisagreeableone.

Itisonlythroughmycloseassociationwithhim,throwntogether  aswearedayafterday,thatIhaveobservedit.Otherwiseheis

anagreeablecompanion,well-readandentertaining,andasgallant  aseamanasevertrodadeck.Ishallnoteasilyforgetthewayin  whichhehandledtheshipwhenwewerecaughtbyagaleamongthe  looseiceatthebeginningofApril.Ihaveneverseenhimso  cheerful,andevenhilarious,ashewasthatnight,ashepaced  backwardsandforwardsuponthebridgeamidtheflashingofthe  lightningandthehowlingofthewind.Hehastoldmeseveral  timesthatthethoughtofdeathwasapleasantonetohim,whichis  asadthingforayoungmantosay;hecannotbemuchmorethan  thirty,thoughhishairandmoustachearealreadyslightly  grizzled.Somegreatsorrowmusthaveovertakenhimandblighted  hiswholelife.PerhapsIshouldbethesameifIlostmyFlora--

Godknows!IthinkifitwerenotforherthatIshouldcarevery  littlewhetherthewindblewfromthenorthorthesouthto-morrow.

There,Ihearhimcomedownthecompanion,andhehaslocked  himselfupinhisroom,whichshowsthatheisstillinan  unamiablemood.Andsotobed,asoldPepyswouldsay,forthe  candleisburningdown(wehavetousethemnowsincethenights  areclosingin),andthestewardhasturnedin,sothereareno  hopesofanotherone.

September12th.--Calm,clearday,andstilllyinginthesame  position.Whatwindthereiscomesfromthesouth-east,butitis  veryslight.Captainisinabetterhumour,andapologisedtome  atbreakfastforhisrudeness.Hestilllookssomewhatdistrait,  however,andretainsthatwildlookinhiseyeswhichina

Highlanderwouldmeanthathewasfey--atleastsoourchief  engineerremarkedtome,andhehassomereputationamongthe

Celticportionofourcrewasaseerandexpounderofomens.

Itisstrangethatsuperstitionshouldhaveobtainedsuchmastery  overthishard-headedandpracticalrace.Icouldnothave  believedtowhatanextentitiscarriedhadInotobserveditfor  myself.Wehavehadaperfectepidemicofitthisvoyage,untilI  havefeltinclinedtoserveoutrationsofsedativesandnerve-  tonicswiththeSaturdayallowanceofgrog.Thefirstsymptom  ofitwasthatshortlyafterleavingShetlandthemenatthewheel  usedtocomplainthattheyheardplaintivecriesandscreamsinthe  wakeoftheship,asifsomethingwerefollowingitandwereunable  toovertakeit.Thisfictionhasbeenkeptupduringthewhole  voyage,andondarknightsatthebeginningoftheseal-fishingit  wasonlywithgreatdifficultythatmencouldbeinducedtodo  theirspell.Nodoubtwhattheyheardwaseitherthecreakingof  therudder-chains,orthecryofsomepassingsea-bird.Ihave  beenfetchedoutofbedseveraltimestolistentoit,butIneed  hardlysaythatIwasneverabletodistinguishanythingunnatural.

Themen,however,aresoabsurdlypositiveuponthesubjectthatit  ishopelesstoarguewiththem.Imentionedthemattertothe

Captainonce,buttomysurprisehetookitverygravely,and

indeedappearedtobeconsiderablydisturbedbywhatItoldhim.

Ishouldhavethoughtthatheatleastwouldhavebeenabovesuch  vulgardelusions.

Allthisdisquisitionuponsuperstitionleadsmeuptothefact  thatMr.Manson,oursecondmate,sawaghostlastnight--or,at  least,saysthathedid,whichofcourseisthesamething.Itis  quiterefreshingtohavesomenewtopicofconversationafterthe  eternalroutineofbearsandwhaleswhichhasservedusforsomany  months.Mansonswearstheshipishaunted,andthathewouldnot  stayinheradayifhehadanyotherplacetogoto.Indeedthe  fellowishonestlyfrightened,andIhadtogivehimsome  chloralandbromideofpotassiumthismorningtosteadyhim  down.HeseemedquiteindignantwhenIsuggestedthathehadbeen  havinganextraglassthenightbefore,andIwasobligedtopacify  himbykeepingasgraveacountenanceaspossibleduringhisstory,  whichhecertainlynarratedinaverystraight-forwardandmatter-  of-factway.

Iwasonthebridge,hesaid,"aboutfourbellsinthemiddle  watch,justwhenthenightwasatitsdarkest.Therewasabitof  amoon,butthecloudswereblowingacrossitsothatyoucouldn't  seefarfromtheship.JohnM`Leod,theharpooner,cameaftfrom  thefoc'sle-headandreportedastrangenoiseonthestarboardbow.

Iwentforrardandwebothheardit,sometimeslikeabairncrying  andsometimeslikeawenchinpain.I'vebeenseventeenyearsto  thecountryandIneverheardseal,oldoryoung,makeasoundlike  that.Aswewerestandingthereonthefoc'sle-headthemooncame  outfrombehindacloud,andwebothsawasortofwhitefigure  movingacrosstheicefieldinthesamedirectionthatwehadheard  thecries.Welostsightofitforawhile,butitcamebackon  theportbow,andwecouldjustmakeitoutlikeashadowonthe  ice.Isentahandaftfortherifles,andM`LeodandIwentdown  ontothepack,thinkingthatmaybeitmightbeabear.Whenwe  gotontheiceIlostsightofM`Leod,butIpushedoninthe  directionwhereIcouldstillhearthecries.Ifollowedthemfor  amileormaybemore,andthenrunningroundahummockIcameright  ontothetopofitstandingandwaitingformeseemingly.I  don'tknowwhatitwas.Itwasn'tabearanyway.Itwastalland  whiteandstraight,andifitwasn'tamannorawoman,I'llstake  mydavyitwassomethingworse.ImadefortheshipashardasI  couldrun,andpreciousgladIwastofindmyselfaboard.Isigned  articlestodomydutybytheship,andontheshipI'llstay,but  youdon'tcatchmeontheiceagainaftersundown."

Thatishisstory,givenasfarasIcaninhisownwords.Ifancy  whathesawmust,inspiteofhisdenial,havebeenayoungbear  erectuponitshindlegs,anattitudewhichtheyoftenassumewhen  alarmed.Intheuncertainlightthiswouldbeararesemblanceto  ahumanfigure,especiallytoamanwhosenerveswerealready

somewhatshaken.Whateveritmayhavebeen,theoccurrenceis  unfortunate,forithasproducedamostunpleasanteffectuponthe  crew.Theirlooksaremoresullenthanbefore,andtheir  discontentmoreopen.Thedoublegrievanceofbeingdebarredfrom  theherringfishingandofbeingdetainedinwhattheychooseto  callahauntedvessel,mayleadthemtodosomethingrash.Even  theharpooners,whoaretheoldestandsteadiestamongthem,are  joininginthegeneralagitation.

Apartfromthisabsurdoutbreakofsuperstition,thingsarelooking  rathermorecheerful.Thepackwhichwasformingtothesouthof  ushaspartlyclearedaway,andthewaterissowarmastoleadme  tobelievethatwearelyinginoneofthosebranchesofthegulf-  streamwhichrunupbetweenGreenlandandSpitzbergen.There  arenumeroussmallMedusseandsealemonsabouttheship,with  abundanceofshrimps,sothatthereiseverypossibilityoffish  beingsighted.Indeedonewasseenblowingaboutdinner-time,but  insuchapositionthatitwasimpossiblefortheboatstofollow  it.

September13th.--Hadaninterestingconversationwiththechief  mate,Mr.Milne,uponthebridge.ItseemsthatourCaptainisas  greatanenigmatotheseamen,andeventotheownersofthe  vessel,ashehasbeentome.Mr.Milnetellsmethatwhenthe  shipispaidoff,uponreturningfromavoyage,CaptainCraigie  disappears,andisnotseenagainuntiltheapproachofanother  season,whenhewalksquietlyintotheofficeofthecompany,and  askswhetherhisserviceswillberequired.Hehasnofriendin

Dundee,nordoesanyonepretendtobeacquaintedwithhisearly  history.Hispositiondependsentirelyuponhisskillasaseaman,  andthenameforcourageandcoolnesswhichhehadearnedinthe  capacityofmate,beforebeingentrustedwithaseparatecommand.

TheunanimousopinionseemstobethatheisnotaScotchman,and  thathisnameisanassumedone.Mr.Milnethinksthathehas  devotedhimselftowhalingsimplyforthereasonthatitisthe  mostdangerousoccupationwhichhecouldselect,andthathecourts  deathineverypossiblemanner.Hementionedseveralinstancesof  this,oneofwhichisrathercurious,iftrue.Itseemsthaton  oneoccasionhedidnotputinanappearanceattheoffice,and  asubstitutehadtobeselectedinhisplace.Thatwasatthetime  ofthelastRussianandTurkishwar.Whenheturnedupagainnext  springhehadapuckeredwoundinthesideofhisneckwhichhe  usedtoendeavourtoconcealwithhiscravat.Whetherthemate's  inferencethathehadbeenengagedinthewaristrueornotI  cannotsay.Itwascertainlyastrangecoincidence.

Thewindisveeringroundinaneasterlydirection,butisstill  veryslight.Ithinktheiceislyingcloserthanitdid  yesterday.Asfarastheeyecanreachoneverysidethereisone  wideexpanseofspotlesswhite,onlybrokenbyanoccasionalrift  orthedarkshadowofahummock.Tothesouththereisthenarrow

laneofbluewaterwhichisoursolemeansofescape,andwhichis  closingupeveryday.TheCaptainistakingaheavyresponsibility  uponhimself.Ihearthatthetankofpotatoeshasbeenfinished,  andeventhebiscuitsarerunningshort,buthepreservesthesame  impassiblecountenance,andspendsthegreaterpartofthedayat  thecrow'snest,sweepingthehorizonwithhisglass.Hismanner  isveryvariable,andheseemstoavoidmysociety,buttherehas  beennorepetitionoftheviolencewhichheshowedtheothernight.

7.30P.M.--Mydeliberateopinionisthatwearecommandedbya  madman.Nothingelsecanaccountfortheextraordinaryvagariesof

CaptainCraigie.ItisfortunatethatIhavekeptthisjournalof  ourvoyage,asitwillservetojustifyusincasewehavetoput  himunderanysortofrestraint,astepwhichIshouldonly  consenttoasalastresource.Curiouslyenoughitwashehimself  whosuggestedlunacyandnotmereeccentricityasthesecretofhis  strangeconduct.Hewasstandinguponthebridgeaboutanhour  ago,peeringasusualthroughhisglass,whileIwaswalkingupand  downthequarterdeck.Themajorityofthemenwerebelowattheir  tea,forthewatcheshavenotbeenregularlykeptoflate.Tired  ofwalking,Ileanedagainstthebulwarks,andadmiredthemellow  glowcastbythesinkingsunuponthegreaticefieldswhich  surroundus.IwassuddenlyarousedfromthereverieintowhichI  hadfallenbyahoarsevoiceatmyelbow,andstartingroundI  foundthattheCaptainhaddescendedandwasstandingbymyside.

Hewasstaringoutovertheicewithanexpressioninwhichhorror,  surprise,andsomethingapproachingtojoywerecontendingforthe  mastery.Inspiteofthecold,greatdropsofperspirationwere  coursingdownhisforehead,andhewasevidentlyfearfullyexcited.

Hislimbstwitchedlikethoseofamanuponthevergeofan  epilepticfit,andthelinesabouthismouthweredrawnandhard.

Look!hegasped,seizingmebythewrist,butstillkeepinghis  eyesuponthedistantice,andmovinghisheadslowlyina  horizontaldirection,asiffollowingsomeobjectwhichwasmoving  acrossthefieldofvision."Look!There,man,there!Between  thehummocks!Nowcomingoutfrombehindthefarone!Yousee  her--youMUSTseeher!Therestill!Flyingfromme,by

God,flyingfromme--andgone!"

Heutteredthelasttwowordsinawhisperofconcentratedagony  whichshallneverfadefrommyremembrance.Clingingtothe  ratlinesheendeavouredtoclimbupuponthetopofthebulwarksas  ifinthehopeofobtainingalastglanceatthedepartingobject.

Hisstrengthwasnotequaltotheattempt,however,andhe  staggeredbackagainstthesaloonskylights,whereheleaned  pantingandexhausted.HisfacewassolividthatIexpectedhim  tobecomeunconscious,solostnotimeinleadinghimdownthe  companion,andstretchinghimupononeofthesofasinthecabin.

Ithenpouredhimoutsomebrandy,whichIheldtohislips,and

whichhadawonderfuleffectuponhim,bringingthebloodbackinto  hiswhitefaceandsteadyinghispoorshakinglimbs.Heraised  himselfupuponhiselbow,andlookingroundtoseethatwewere  alone,hebeckonedtometocomeandsitbesidehim.

Yousawit,didn'tyou?heasked,stillinthesamesubdued  awesometonesoforeigntothenatureoftheman.

No,Isawnothing.

Hisheadsankbackagainuponthecushions.No,hewouldn't  withouttheglass,hemurmured."Hecouldn't.Itwastheglass  thatshowedhertome,andthentheeyesoflove--theeyesoflove.

Isay,Doc,don'tletthestewardin!He'llthinkI'mmad.Just  boltthedoor,willyou!"

Iroseanddidwhathehadcommanded.

Helayquietforawhile,lostinthoughtapparently,andthen  raisedhimselfupuponhiselbowagain,andaskedforsomemore  brandy.

Youdon'tthinkIam,doyou,Doc?heasked,asIwasputtingthe  bottlebackintotheafter-locker.Tellmenow,asmantoman,do  youthinkthatIammad?

Ithinkyouhavesomethingonyourmind,Ianswered,whichis  excitingyouanddoingyouagooddealofharm.

Rightthere,lad!hecried,hiseyessparklingfromtheeffects  ofthebrandy.Plentyonmymind--plenty!ButIcanworkoutthe  latitudeandthelongitude,andIcanhandlemysextantandmanage  mylogarithms.Youcouldn'tprovememadinacourtoflaw,could  you,now?Itwascurioustohearthemanlyingbackandcoolly  arguingoutthequestionofhisownsanity.

Perhapsnot,Isaid;butstillIthinkyouwouldbewisetoget  homeassoonasyoucan,andsettledowntoaquietlifefora  while.

Gethome,eh?hemuttered,withasneeruponhisface.Oneword  formeandtwoforyourself,lad.SettledownwithFlora--pretty  littleFlora.Arebaddreamssignsofmadness?

Sometimes,Ianswered.

Whatelse?Whatwouldbethefirstsymptoms?

Painsinthehead,noisesintheearsflashesbeforetheeyes,  delusions----

Ah!whataboutthem?heinterrupted.Whatwouldyoucalla  delusion?

Seeingathingwhichisnotthereisadelusion.

ButsheWASthere!hegroanedtohimself.SheWASthere!  andrising,heunboltedthedoorandwalkedwithslowanduncertain  stepstohisowncabin,whereIhavenodoubtthathewillremain  untilto-morrowmorning.Hissystemseemstohavereceiveda  terribleshock,whateveritmayhavebeenthatheimaginedhimself  tohaveseen.Themanbecomesagreatermysteryeveryday,though

Ifearthatthesolutionwhichhehashimselfsuggestedisthe  correctone,andthathisreasonisaffected.Idonotthinkthat  aguiltyconsciencehasanythingtodowithhisbehaviour.The  ideaisapopularoneamongtheofficers,and,Ibelieve,thecrew;  butIhaveseennothingtosupportit.Hehasnottheairofa