Lakhasly

The floating sheets of Arctic ice were slowly freezing together , threatening to crush the small sailing ship .Instead , he had spent the last six years at sea , working as a common sailor , enduring cold , hunger , thirst , sleeplessness , and often brutal discipline , just to prepare his body and mind for this long and dangerous voyage But now , with the ice threatening his ship and the lives of his crew , it was doubtful whether or not any of them would ever see their homes and families in England again !Robert Walton , its young English captain , stood on deck , wondering if he were wrong risking the lives of his brave crew for his own ambitions - to explore oceans ships had never sailed on and land men had never walked on ." Walton was amazed that anyone so near death should ask such a question of anyone interested in saving his life . But he decided to humor the man by explaining , " We're exploring the seas near the North Pole ." " Wrap him in blankets and lay him gently near the stove , " ordered Walton .He dreamed of the benefits this discovery would have for all mankind if he were to discover a sea route near the North Pole from Europe to Asia .Walton had been born into wealth and could have chosen to spend his life in ease and luxury ." Walton told his men , " and this man is nothing at all like that gigantic creature that sped past us ." For two days , the man didn't speak . The wild expression in his eyes and the frequent gnashing of his teeth made Walton fear that the man " s suffering had driven him mad .Yet there were moments , when someone was kind or helpful to him , that his eyes shone with kindness and gratitude ." The man " s face immediately turned gloomy as he replied , " I'm looking for someone in a sledge very much like mine ." It's a sledge , sir , " said a sailor , " much like the one we saw yesterday ." The man nodded and whispered , " North is good ." And he let the sailors come down to carry him up to the ship . Once the man was on deck , the ship's doctor reported , " His legs are nearly frozen , sir , and his body is so thin that his bones are coming through his clothing ." " Calm yourself , my friend , " cautioned Walton ." You " ve been very ill , and you mustn't have this kind of excitement .At about two o'clock in the afternoon , the thick , heavy fog that had surrounded the ship all morning began to lift .As it did , a strange sight appeared on the ice ." " Here is our captain , " called one of the sailors to the man below ." " We saw him , " Walton explained , " only the day before we picked you up ." " You're right , " said the stranger with a sigh ." " Good Lord , man !" " Thank you , sir , " answered the man in a weak voice , " but first I need to know where your ship is headed ." At that news , the stranger " s eyes opened wide , and he raised himself off the pillow .

The floating sheets of Arctic ice were slowly freezing together , threatening to crush the small sailing ship . Robert Walton , its young English captain , stood on deck , wondering if he were wrong risking the lives of his brave crew for his own ambitions - to explore oceans ships had never sailed on and land men had never walked on . He dreamed of the benefits this discovery would have for all mankind if he were to discover a sea route near the North Pole from Europe to Asia . Walton had been born into wealth and could have chosen to spend his life in ease and luxury . Instead , he had spent the last six years at sea , working as a common sailor , enduring cold , hunger , thirst , sleeplessness , and often brutal discipline , just to prepare his body and mind for this long and dangerous voyage But now , with the ice threatening his ship and the lives of his crew , it was doubtful whether or not any of them would ever see their homes and families in England again ! At about two o'clock in the afternoon , the thick , heavy fog that had surrounded the ship all morning began to lift . As it did , a strange sight appeared on the ice . " Look , Captain ! " called a crewman , pointing to a dark spot a half - mile away . " It's a sledge , sir . And those dogs are pulling it as if their feet had wings ! " Walton lifted his telescope to his eye . " And look at that driver ! " he cried . " He has to be the most gigantic man I've ever laid eyes on ! What on earth is he doing here , out in the middle of the frozen sea , hundreds of miles away from any land ? " Within minutes , though , the mysterious traveler had disappeared on the ice , leaving Walton and his crew stunned and speechless ! The next morning at dawn , Walton came up on deck to find his sailors leaning over the rail , apparently talking to someone on the ice below . " What's happening , lads ? " he asked as he joined them at the rail . " It's a sledge , sir , " said a sailor , " much like the one we saw yesterday . " Walton looked out over the rail . There , frozen into a block of ice drifting towards the ship was a sledge , a dog team , and a driver . All the dogs were dead except one , and its reins were being held limply by a frost - covered man as he paddled the block of ice with a piece of wood . He appeared to be barely alive . " This isn't the same sledge we saw yesterday . " Walton told his men , " and this man is nothing at all like that gigantic creature that sped past us . " " Here is our captain , " called one of the sailors to the man below . " Perhaps he can persuade you to come aboard . " " Good Lord , man ! You're near death ! " called Walton . " Let my men bring you up . " " Thank you , sir , " answered the man in a weak voice , " but first I need to know where your ship is headed . " Walton was amazed that anyone so near death should ask such a question of anyone interested in saving his life . But he decided to humor the man by explaining , " We're exploring the seas near the North Pole . " The man nodded and whispered , " North is good . " And he let the sailors come down to carry him up to the ship . Once the man was on deck , the ship's doctor reported , " His legs are nearly frozen , sir , and his body is so thin that his bones are coming through his clothing . " " Wrap him in blankets and lay him gently near the stove , " ordered Walton . " When he warms up , feed him a little soup , then put him in my cabin . Hell be comfortable there , and I will take care of him myself . " For two days , the man didn't speak . The wild expression in his eyes and the frequent gnashing of his teeth made Walton fear that the man " s suffering had driven him mad . Yet there were moments , when someone was kind or helpful to him , that his eyes shone with kindness and gratitude . When the man was finally able to utter a few words , Walton asked him , " What were you doing out there on the ice in a sledge ? " The man " s face immediately turned gloomy as he replied , " I'm looking for someone in a sledge very much like mine . " " We saw him , " Walton explained , " only the day before we picked you up . " At that news , the stranger " s eyes opened wide , and he raised himself off the pillow . " Which way did that demon head ? " he gasped . " How many dogs did he have ? How much food ? I must know ! I must find him ! " " Calm yourself , my friend , " cautioned Walton . " You " ve been very ill , and you mustn't have this kind of excitement . " " You're right , " said the stranger with a sigh . " You've rescued me from near death , and I'm certain that you must be curious about me . My grief is so deep that I can't talk about it yet , but please be patient . I have a terrible secret which I promise to share with you very soon . " Days passed , and the man's strength returned . He insisted on spending his time on deck searching for the sledge , but he also enjoyed hearing Captain Walton talk about his dreams of exploration