“It is the Arctic Ocean.”

“And what waters does this ocean communicate with?”

“The Atlantic on the west, and the Pacific on the east.”

“Can you name two or three of the most important seaports on the Pacific?”

“I can mention Yokohama, in Japan; Melbourne, in Australia; San Francisco, in the State of California.”

“Well, since the Arctic Ocean communicates on one side with the Atlantic, and on the other with the Pacific, do you not think that the shortest route to Yokohama or San Francisco would be through this Arctic Ocean?”

“Assuredly,” answered Erik, “it would be the shortest way, if it were practicable, but all navigators who have attempted to follow it have been prevented by ice, and been compelled to renounce the enterprise, when they have escaped death.”

“Have they often attempted to discover the north-east passage?”

“At least fifty times during the last three centuries, but without success.”

“Could you mention a few of the expeditions?”

“The first was organized in 1523, under the direction of Franois Sebastian Cabot.  It consisted of three vessels under the command of the unfortunate Sir Hugh Willoughby, who perished in Lapland, with all his crew.  One of his lieutenants, Chancellor, was at first successful, and opened a direct route through the Polar Sea.  But he also, while making a second attempt, was shipwrecked, and perished.  A captain, Stephen Borough, who was sent in search of him, succeeded in making his way through the strait which separates Nova Zembla from the Island of Waigate and in penetrating into the Sea of Kara.  But the fog and ice prevented him from going any further.

“Two expeditions which were sent out in 1580 were equally unsuccessful.  The project was nevertheless revived by the Hollanders about fifteen years later, and they fitted out, successively, three expeditions, under the command of Barentz.

“In 1596, Barentz also perished, in the ice of Nova Zembla.

“Ten years later Henry Hudson was sent out, but also failed.

“The Danes were not more successful in 1653.

“In 1676, Captain John Wood was also shipwrecked.  Since that period the north-east passage has been considered impracticable, and abandoned by the maritime powers.”

“Has it never been attempted since that epoch?”

“It has been by Russia, to whom it would be of immense advantage, as well as to all the northern nations, to find a direct route between her shores and Siberia.  She has sent out during a century no less than eighteen expeditions to explore the coasts of Nova Zembla, the Sea of Kara, and the eastern and western coasts of Siberia.  But, although these expeditions have made these places better known, they have also demonstrated the impossibility of forcing a passage through the Arctic Ocean.  The academician Van Baer, who made the last attempt in 1837, after Admiral Lutke and Pachtusow, declared emphatically that this ocean is simply a glacier, as impracticable for vessels as it would be if it were a continent.”