Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/246

 the Arctic Regions under Sir James Ross. Captain Penney was a good-natured man, and was particularly interested in the doctor's journey, which he saw the value of some time before. Penney was more of a savant than a sailor, but that did not militate against his carrying four carronades on board, which, however, had never done any harm, and only made the least warlike of reports.

The hold of the Resolute was fitted up for the reception of the balloon. It was put on board most carefully on the 18th February, and stowed away at the bottom of the vessel so as to avoid the chance of accident. The car and its accessories, the grapnels, the ropes, the provisions, the water-tanks (which were to be rilled on arrival), were all stowed under the eyes of Ferguson himself. They also put on board ten tons of sulphuric acid, and ten tons of old iron, for the manufacture of hydrogen gas. This was a more than sufficient quantity, but it was necessary to guard against possible loss. The apparatus for developing the gas, including about thirty barrels, was placed in the hold.

These various preparations were completed by the evening of the 18th February. Two well-arranged cabins had been prepared for the doctor and Kennedy. The latter, all the time vowing that he would not go, came on board with a perfect armory of guns and rifles, two excellent double-barreled breech-loaders, and a carbine, tested by Purday, Moore, and Dickson, of Edinburgh. With such a weapon the sportsman would have no difficulty to lodge a bullet in the eye of a chamois at 2,000 yards. Added to these he had two Colt's "six-shooters" with the latest improvements; his powder-flask, shot-pouch, lead, and bullets in sufficient quantity did not exceed the weight laid down by the doctor.

The three travelers went on board on the 19th February and were received with great distinction by the captain and officers. The doctor was quite self-possessed but unusually preoccupied with his expedition. Dick was much moved, but tried not to betray his feelings. Joe jumped about, making absurd remarks, and was at once installed as the wag of the forecastle, where a berth had been reserved for him. On the 20th, a grand farewell dinner was given in honor of Doctor Ferguson and his friend Kennedy, by the Royal Geographical Society. Captain Penney and his officers had also been invited, who were very cheerful, and had their