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I
PuffsofsmokefromErebuscameintermittently,andoneofthegraduateassistants-abrilliantyoungfellownamedDanforth-pointedoutwhatlookedlikelavaonthesnowyslope, remarkingthatthismountain,discoveredin1840,hadundoubtedlybeenthesourceofPoe’simagewhenhewrotesevenyearslater:
-thelavasthatrestlesslyroll
TheirsulphurouscurrentsdownYaanek
Intheultimateclimesofthepole-
ThatgroanastheyrolldownMountYaanek
Intherealmsoftheborealpole.
Danforthwasagreatreaderofbizarrematerial,andhadtalkedagooddealofPoe. IwasinterestedmyselfbecauseoftheantarcticsceneofPoe’sonlylongstory-thedisturbingandenigmaticalArthurGordonPym. Onthebarrenshore,andontheloftyicebarrierinthebackground,myriadsofgrotesquepenguinssquawkedandflappedtheirfins,whilemanyfatsealswerevisibleonthewater,swimmingorsprawlingacrosslargecakesofslowlydriftingice.
Usingsmallboats,weeffectedadifficultlandingonRossIslandshortlyaftermidnightonthemorningofthe9th,carryingalineofcablefromeachoftheshipsandpreparingtounloadsuppliesbymeansofabreeches-buoyarrangement. OursensationsonfirsttreadingAntarcticsoilwerepoiguantandcomplex,eventhoughatthisparticularpointtheScottandShackletonexpeditionshadprecededus.
