But there is no way to do it, given our current Conditions and my lack of any Scientific Apparatus. The best I can do is insist that the men eat any fresh meat that our hunters shoot and bring in – even the Blubber and sweetmeats, I feel, against all logic, may strengthen us against Scurvy.
But our hunters have found no living things to shoot. And the ice is too thick to chop through for fishing.
Last night Captain Fitzjames stopped by as he does at the beginning and end of each of his long, long Days, and after he had his usual Rounds of the sleeping men, asking me the Changes in Condition of each, I was Forward enough to ask him the question I had been wondering about for so many weeks now.
Captain, I said, I understand if you are too busy to answer this or if you prefer not to, since it is a Lubber’s question, there is no doubt of it, but I’ve been wondering for some time – why 18 Boats?
We seem to have brought Every Boat from Erebus and Terror, yet we have only 105 men.
Captain Fitzjames said, Come outside with me if you will, Dr. Goodsir.
I told Henry Lloyd, my Weary Assistant, to watch over the men, and followed Captain Fitzjames outside. I had noticed in the Sick Bay Tent that his Beard, which I had thought was coming in Red, was actually mostly Grey, only rimmed in dried Blood.
The captain had brought an extra Lantern from the Sick Bay and he led the way with it down to the graveled Beach.
There was no Wine-Dark Sea lapping at the Shingle of this Beach, of course. Instead, the heap of coastal Tall Bergs that formed a Barrier between us and the Ice Pack still lined the Shore.
Captain Fitzjames raised his lantern along the long line of boats. What do you see, Doctor? he asked.
Boats, I ventured, feeling every Inch the Lubber I had accused myself of being.
Can you tell the difference between them, Dr. Goodsir?
I looked more carefully in the lantern light.
These first four are not on Sledges, I said. I had been quick to notice that even the first night I was here. I had no idea why this was the case, when Mr. Honey had gone to such Care to make special Sledges for all the Rest. It seemed like Rank Carelessness to me.
Aye, you are correct, said Captain Fitzjames. These Four are our Whaleboats from Erebus and Terror. Thirty feet long. Lighter than the Others. Very strong. Six oars each. Double-ended like canoes… d’ye see now?
I did now. I had never noticed that the whaleboats seemed to have two bows, like a canoe.
If we had ten whaleboats, continued the Captain, everything would have been perfect.
Why is that? I asked.
They’re strong, Doctor. Very strong. And light, as I said. And we could pile Supplies in them and drag them across the Ice without having had the need to build Sledges as we did for the Others. If we find Open Water, we could launch them straight from the ice.
I shook my head. Knowing that Captain Fitzjames would think me a Total Fool as soon as I asked the question – I asked it anyway: But why can the whaleboats be dragged on the ice when the others cannot, Captain?
Captain Fitzjames’s voice showed no impatience when he said, Do you see the rudder, Doctor?
I looked at each end, but I did not. I confessed that to the captain.
Exactly, he said. Whaleboats have a Shallow Keel and no fixed Rudder. An oarsman at the stern steers her.
Is that good? I asked.
It is if you want a light, tough boat with a shallow Keel and no tender Rudder to be broken off when you’re dragging her, said Captain Fitzjames. Perfect for man-hauling across the ice, even though she’s 30 Feet long and can carry up to a Dozen Men with room for Supplies.
I nodded as if I understood. I almost did – but I was very tired.
Do you see her mast, Doctor?
Again I looked. Again I failed to find that which had been requested of me to find. I admitted as much.
That’s because the whaleboats have a single collapsible mast, said the Captain. It’s there folded under the Canvas the men have Rigged over her gunwales.
I have noticed that canvas and wood covering all the boats, I said, to show that I was not totally unobservant. Is that to keep the snow out?
Fitzjames was lighting his pipe. He had run out of Tobacco long ago. I did not want to Know what he was burning in it. The Boat Covers were put on to shield the Crews of all 18 Boats, even though we may only take 10 boats with us, he said softly. Most of the men in camp were sleeping. Guards paced coldly just at the edge of the lantern light.
We’ll be under that canvas when we cross Open Water to the mouth of the Back’s Great Fish River? I asked. I had never pictured us hunkered down under Canvas and wood. I had always imagined us rowing happily in Sunlight.
We may not use the Boats on the River, he said, puffing out aromatic clouds of what smelled like dried human excrement. If the Waters along the Coast open up this Summer, Captain Crozier would prefer to Sail us to Safety.
All the way to Alaska and St. Petersburg? I asked.
To Alaska at least, said the Captain. Or perhaps Baffin Bay if the Coastal Leads open to the North. He took several steps and swung the lantern closer to the Boats on Sledges. Do you know these Boats, Doctor?
Are they different, Captain? I found that such terrible Fatigue was a great Inducement to Honesty without Embarrassment.
Aye, said Fitzjames. These next two lashed to Mr. Honey’s special Sledges here are our Cutters. Surely you noticed them when they were Lashed on Deck or on the ice next to the Ships these past Three Winters?
Yes, of course, I said. But are you saying these are different from the first, the whaleboats?
Quite different, said Captain Fitzjames, taking the time to relight his pipe. Do you notice any masts on these boats, Doctor?
Even in the dim light from the lantern I could see two masts rising from each of these craft. The Canvas had been Artfully shaped and cut and Stitched around them. I told the Captain my observation.
Aye, very good, he said. He did not sound Condescending.
Are these collapsible masts not collapsed for a purpose? I asked, as much to show that I had been listening earlier as for any better reason.
They’re not collapsible, Dr. Goodsir. These masts are Lug Rigged… or you may know them as Gaff Rigged. Quite permanent. And do you see fixed rudders on these? And the deeper keels?
I could. I did. The Rudders and Keels are the reason they could not be Dragged like the whaleboats? I ventured.
Exactly. You have Diagnosed the Problem, Doctor.
Could not the Rudders be removed, Captain?
Possibly, Dr. Goodsir, but the deep Keels… they would have been Stuck or Ripped out by the first Pressure Ridge, now wouldn’t they?
I nodded again and laid my mittened hand on the gunwale. Is it my imagination, or are these four boats slightly shorter than the whaleboats?
You have a very good Eye indeed, Doctor. 28 feet long as opposed to 30 feet for the whaleboats. And heavier… the Cutters are Heavier. And square-sterned.