chapter 1 The Icy North I stand on the deck looking out The white snow and ice crystals are blinding Our ship is stuck as we’re trapped here in a glacier It is my own fault It was I who wanted this journey I craved so badly to see land that very few men have seen So we sailed north The air grew colder but I continued on The icebergs we passed grew wider and taller like small castles peeking out of the ocean But we sailed through ignoring the danger Several of the crewmen wanted to turn back We must return to England while we can they begged But I refused to listen I needed to see more And now because of me the ship is wedged in ice We can go no farther 4
As I stand here the freezing arctic wind burns my face I’ve never been so cold And not just from the chilly air but also from fear Will we die up here One of my crewmen approaches Captain Walton please he said What shall we do I hang my head not knowing what to tell him They look to me for answers but I have none Then I hear a yell Come quickly We move toward the voice Look A crewman points over the side of the ship What is that he asks I lean over the railing to see There is a bundle of wet fur lying on a large nugget of ice I see broken pieces of a dogsled beside it But underneath all that fur I make out the shape of a man Hurry I shout Bring him up Several men climb down to rescue this odd stranger And with great care we lay him down on a cot below where it is warm 5
The man’s face is pale and blue His breathing is shallow Quick I say Bring blankets We bundle him up tightly hoping the warmth will save his life After some color returns to his skin I say I am Captain Walton This is my ship The man barely moves He opens his eyes a little You are safe now I reassure him But he shakes his head No There is no place safe Not while he is loose I mustn’t stay here I have to look for him Who I ask But the man closes his eyes and falls into a deep sleep The man is unconscious for several days His fever is high and I try to comfort him with cool water I force him to drink warm tea Despite my efforts he only wakes occasionally Must find him he shouts Must destroy him I think it is just the fever causing bad dreams But finally the man wakes He carefully pulls himself up 6
