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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Field of Ice, by Jules Verne
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Field of Ice
+       Part II of the Adventures of Captain Hatteras
+
+Author: Jules Verne
+
+Posting Date: November 15, 2011 [EBook #9618]
+Release Date: January, 2006
+First Posted: October 10, 2003
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FIELD OF ICE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by PG Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Redactor's Note: The Field of Ice {Number V004 (Part II)} in the
+T&M numerical listing of Verne's works is a translation of Part II
+of Voyages et aventures du capitane Hatteras: II: LeDesert de glace
+(1866) first published in England in this Routledge (London, 1874)
+anonymous translation. Other translations are Osgood (Boston, 1874),
+Ward, Lock, and Tyler (1876), Goubaud & Son (London, 1877), and
+Hutchinson (London, 1890). This early work was never published by
+Scribners or Sampson and Low and never found the wide popularity
+obtained by the works published by those houses. Page numbers are
+retained in this version to assist in the later collating the
+numerous illustrations. A List of Illustrations has been provided.
+(NMW)]
+
+
+
+
+
+THE FIELD OF ICE
+
+
+
+BY JULES VERNE,
+
+
+AUTHOR OF "A JOURNEY TO THE NORTH POLE."
+"THE CHILDREN OF CAPTAIN GRANT."
+ETC
+
+
+WITH 126 ILLUSTRATIONS BY RIOU
+
+
+
+LONDON AND NEW YORK
+
+
+GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS
+
+
+1875
+
+[All rights reserved.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LONDON
+Printed by Simmons and Botten
+Shoe Lane, E.C.
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+THE DOCTOR'S INVENTORY
+ 1
+
+CHAPTER II.
+FIRST WORDS OF ALTAMONT
+ 10
+
+CHAPTER III.
+A SEVENTEEN DAYS' MARCH
+ 22
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+THE LAST CHARGE OF POWDER
+ 32
+
+CHAPTER V.
+THE SEAL AND THE BEAR
+ 44
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+THE "PORPOISE"
+ 55
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION
+ 66
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+AN EXCURSION TO THE NORTH OF VICTORIA BAY
+ 77
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+COLD AND HEAT
+ 88
+
+CHAPTER X.
+WINTER PLEASURES
+ 97
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+TRACKS OF BEARS
+ 107
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+IMPRISIONED IN DOCTOR'S HOUSE
+ 118
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+THE MINE
+ 130
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+AN ARCTIC SPRING
+ 143
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+THE NORTH WEST PASSAGE
+ 154
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+ARCTIC ARCADIA
+ 163
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+ALTAMONT'S REVENGE
+ 173
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+FINAL PREPARATIONS
+ 181
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+MARCH TO THE NORTH
+ 187
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW
+ 199
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+THE OPEN SEA
+ 209
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+GETTING NEAR THE POLE
+ 216
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+THE ENGLISH FLAG
+ 227
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+MOUNT HATTERAS
+ 240
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+RETURN SOUTH
+ 253
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+CONCLUSION
+ 264
+
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+
+THE FIELD OF ICE
+
+
+
+
+"Altamont had already swung his hatchet to strike, when he was
+arrested by a well known voice"
+
+
+ 132--frontispiece.
+
+
+
+"The tired-out dogs were harnessed sorely against their will, and
+before long bringing the few but precious treasures found among the
+debris of the brig"
+
+
+ 9
+
+
+
+Johnson's Story
+
+
+ 11
+
+
+
+"The poor fellows felt like colonists safely arrived at their
+destination."
+
+
+ 57
+
+
+
+"'I dispute the claim,' said the Englishman, restraining
+himself by a powerful effort."
+
+
+ 72
+
+
+
+"Clambering up the steep, rocky wall he succeeded, though with
+considerable difficulty, in reaching the top."
+
+
+ 77
+
+
+
+"Soon they were walking in a bright luminous track, leaving their
+shadows behind them on the spotless snow."
+
+
+ 87
+
+
+
+"Hatteras could only manage to keep off his pursuers by flinging
+down one article after another."
+
+
+ 120
+
+
+
+"The carpenter began his task immediately."
+
+
+ 154
+
+
+
+"The Doctor did not allow him to proceed, for he really feared the
+two antagonists might come to blows."
+
+
+ 162
+
+
+
+"It was a strange and touching spectacle to see the pretty
+creatures--they flew on Clawbonny's shoulders, etc."
+
+
+ 169
+
+
+
+"Dealt him such a blow on the head with his hatchet that the skull
+was completely split open."
+
+
+ 177
+
+
+
+"The poor seal struggled desperately, but could not free himself
+from the grasp of his enemy."
+
+
+ 184
+
+
+
+"On the 29th Bell killed a fox and Altamont a musk-ox."
+
+
+ 192
+
+
+
+"At Bell's suggestion, torches were contrived."
+
+
+ 188
+
+
+
+Three hours afterwards, they arrived at the coast and shouted
+simultaneously "The sea, the sea!"
+
+
+ 206
+
+
+
+"And the doctor, leaning over the side of the vessel, could see
+the whales and the dolphins and all the rest of the monsters of the
+deep."
+
+
+ 214
+
+
+
+"It is a volcano, he explained."
+
+
+ 217
+
+
+
+"Mast and sail were torn off and went flying away through the
+darkness like some large, white bird."
+
+
+ 224
+
+
+
+"Altamont speedily discovered a grotto composed of rocks."
+
+
+ 234
+
+
+
+"There he was, standing on a rock, gazing fixedly at the top of
+the mountain."
+
+
+ 242
+
+
+
+"Hatteras did not even turn once to look back, but marched
+straight on, carrying his country's flag attached to his staff."
+
+
+ 249
+
+
+
+"Dead, frozen----"
+
+
+ 262
+
+
+
+"Two hours later, after unheard-of exertions, the survivors of the
+Forward were picked up by the Hans Christian."
+
+
+ 266
+
+
+
+[no caption]
+
+
+ 267
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE FIELD OF ICE.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+
+THE DOCTOR'S INVENTORY.
+
+
+It was a bold project of Hatteras to push his way to the North Pole,
+and gain for his country the honour and glory of its discovery. But
+he had done all that lay in human power now, and, after having
+struggled for nine months against currents and tempests, shattering
+icebergs and breaking through almost insurmountable barriers, amid
+the cold of an unprecedented winter, after having outdistanced all
+his predecessors and accomplished half his task, he suddenly saw all
+his hopes blasted. The treachery, or rather the despondency, of his
+worn-out crew, and the criminal folly of one or two leading spirits
+among them had left him and his little band of men in a terrible
+situation--helpless in an icy desert, two thousand five hundred
+miles away from their native land, and without even a ship to
+shelter them.
+
+However, the courage of Hatteras was still undaunted. The three men
+which were left him were the
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+best on board his brig, and while they remained he might venture to
+hope.
+
+After the cheerful, manly words of the captain, the Doctor felt the
+best thing to be done was to look their prospects fairly in the
+face, and know the exact state of things. Accordingly, leaving his
+companions, he stole away alone down to the scene of the explosion.
+
+Of the Forward, the brig that had been so carefully built and had
+become so dear, not a vestige remained. Shapeless blackened
+fragments, twisted bars of iron,
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+cable ends still smouldering, and here and there in the distance
+spiral wreaths of smoke, met his eye on all sides. His cabin and all
+his precious treasures were gone, his books, and instruments, and
+collections reduced to ashes. As he stood thinking mournfully of his
+irreparable loss, he was joined by Johnson, who grasped his offered
+hand in speechless sorrow.
+
+"What's to become of us?" asked the Doctor.
+
+"Who can tell!" was the old sailor's reply.
+
+"Anyhow," said Clawbonny, "do not let us despair! Let us be
+men!"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Clawbonny, you are right. Now is the time to show our
+mettle. We are in a bad plight, and how to get out of it, that is
+the question."
+
+"Poor old brig!" exclaimed the Doctor. "I had grown so
+attached to her. I loved her as one loves a house where he has spent
+a life-time."
+
+"Ay! it's strange what a hold those planks and beams get on a
+fellow's heart."
+
+"And the long-boat--is that burnt?" asked the Doctor.
+
+"No, Mr. Clawbonny. Shandon and his gang have carried it off."
+
+"And the pirogue?"
+
+"Shivered into a thousand pieces? Stop. Do you see those bits of
+sheet-iron? That is all that remains of it."
+
+"Then we have nothing but the Halkett-boat?"
+
+"Yes, we have that still, thanks to your idea of taking it with
+you."
+
+"That isn't much," said the Doctor.
+
+"Oh, those base traitors!" exclaimed Johnson. "Heaven punish
+them as they deserve!"
+
+"Johnson," returned the Doctor, gently, "we must not forget
+how sorely they have been tried. Only the best remain good in the
+evil day; few can stand trouble. Let us pity our fellow-sufferers,
+and not curse them."
+
+For the next few minutes both were silent, and then Johnson asked
+what had become of the sledge.
+
+"We left it about a mile off," was the reply.
+
+"In charge of Simpson?"
+
+"No, Simpson is dead, poor fellow!"
+
+"Simpson dead!"
+
+"Yes, his strength gave way entirely, and he first sank."
+
+"Poor Simpson! And yet who knows if he isn't rather to be
+envied?"
+
+"But, for the dead man we have left behind, we have brought back a
+dying one."
+
+"A dying man?"
+
+"Yes, Captain Altamont."
+
+And in a few words he informed Johnson of their discovery.
+
+"An American!" said Johnson, as the recital was ended.
+
+"Yes, everything goes to prove that. But I wonder what the
+Porpoise was, and what brought her in these seas?"
+
+"She rushed on to her ruin like the rest of foolhardy adventurers;
+but, tell me, did you find the coal?"
+
+The Doctor shook his head sadly.
+
+"No coal! not a vestige! No, we did not even get as far as the
+place mentioned by Sir Edward Belcher."
+
+"Then we have no fuel whatever?" said the old sailor.
+
+"No."
+
+"And no provisions?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And no ship to make our way back to England?"
+
+It required courage indeed to face these gloomy realities, but,
+after a moment's silence, Johnson said again--
+
+"Well, at any rate we know exactly how we stand. The first thing
+to be done now is to make a hut, for we can't stay long exposed to
+this temperature."
+
+"Yes, we'll soon manage that with Bell's help," replied the
+Doctor. "Then we must go and find the sledge, and bring back the
+American, and have a consultation with Hatteras."
+
+"Poor captain," said Johnson, always forgetting his own
+troubles, "how he must feel it!"
+
+Clawbonny and Bell found Hatteras standing motionless, his arms
+folded in his usual fashion. He seemed gazing into space, but his
+face had recovered its calm, self-possessed expression. His faithful
+dog stood beside him, like his master, apparently insensible to the
+biting cold, though the temperature was 32 degrees below zero.
+
+Bell lay on the ice in an almost inanimate condition. Johnson had to
+take vigorous measures to rouse him, but at last, by dint of shaking
+and rubbing him with snow, he succeeded.
+
+"Come, Bell," he cried, "don't give way like this. Exert
+yourself, my man; we must have a talk about our situation, and we
+need a place to put our heads in. Come and help me, Bell. You
+haven't forgotten how to make a snow hut, have you? There is an
+iceberg all ready to hand; we've only got to hollow it out.
+Let's set to work; we shall find that is the best remedy for us."
+
+Bell tried to shake off his torpor and help his comrade, while Mr.
+Clawbonny undertook to go and fetch the sledge and the dogs.
+
+"Will you go with him, captain?" asked Johnson.
+
+"No, my friend," said Hatteras, in a gentle tone, "if the
+Doctor will kindly undertake the task. Before the day ends I must
+come to some resolution, and I need to be alone to think. Go. Do
+meantime whatever you think best. I will deal with the future."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Johnson went back to the Doctor, and said--
+
+"It's very strange, but the captain seems quite to have got over
+his anger. I never heard him speak so gently before."
+
+"So much the better," said Clawbonny. "Believe me, Johnson,
+that man can save us yet."
+
+And drawing his hood as closely round his head as possible, the
+Doctor seized his iron-tipped staff, and set out without further
+delay.
+
+Johnson and Bell commenced operations immediately. They had simply
+to dig a hole in the heart of a great block of ice; but it was not
+easy work, owing to the extreme hardness of the material. However,
+this very hardness guaranteed the solidity of the dwelling, and the
+further their labours advanced the more they became sheltered.
+
+Hatteras alternately paced up and down, and stood motionless,
+evidently shrinking from any approach to the scene of explosion.
+
+In about an hour the Doctor returned, bringing with him Altamont
+lying on the sledge, wrapped up in the folds of the tent. The poor
+dogs were so exhausted from starvation that they could scarcely draw
+it along, and they had begun to gnaw their harness. It was, indeed,
+high time for feasts and men to take food and rest.
+
+While the hut was being still further dug out, the Doctor went
+foraging about, and had the good fortune to find a little stove,
+almost undamaged by the explosion. He soon restored it to working
+trim, and, by the time the hut was completed, had filled it with
+wood and got it lighted. Before long it was roaring, and diffusing a
+genial warmth on all sides. The American was brought in and laid on
+blankets, and the four Englishmen seated themselves round the fire
+to enjoy their scanty meal of biscuit and hot tea, the last remains
+of the provisions on the sledge. Not a word was spoken by Hatteras,
+and the others respected his silence.
+
+When the meal was over, the Doctor rose and went out, making a sign
+to Johnson to follow.
+
+"Come, Johnson," he said, "we will take an inventory of all we
+have left. We must know exactly how we are off, and our treasures
+are scattered in all directions; so we had better begin, and pick
+them up as fast as possible, for the snow may fall at any moment,
+and then it would be quite useless to look for anything."
+
+"Don't let us lose a minute, then," replied Johnson. "Fire
+and food--those are our chief wants."
+
+"Very well, you take one side and I'll take the other, and
+we'll search from the centre to the circumference."
+
+This task occupied two hours, and all they discovered was a little
+salt meat, about 50 lbs. of pemmican, three sacks of biscuits, a
+small stock of chocolate, five or six pints of brandy, and about 2
+lbs. of coffee, picked up bean by bean off the ice.
+
+Neither blankets, nor hammocks, nor clothing--all had been consumed
+in the devouring flame.
+
+This slender store of provisions would hardly last three weeks, and
+they had wood enough to supply the stove for about the same time.
+
+[Illustration: The tired-out dogs were harnessed sorely against
+their will, and before long returned bringing the few but precious
+treasures found among the debris of the brig.--P.9]
+
+Now that the inventory was made, the next business was to fetch the
+sledge. The tired-out dogs were harnessed sorely against their will,
+and before long returned bringing the few but precious treasures
+found among the debris of the brig. These were safely deposited in
+the hut, and then Johnson and Clawbonny, half-frozen with their
+work, resumed their places beside their companions in misfortune.
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+
+FIRST WORDS OF ALTAMONT.
+
+
+About eight o'clock in the evening, the grey snow clouds cleared
+away for a little, and the stars shone out brilliantly in the sky.
+
+Hatteras seized the opportunity and went out silently to take the
+altitude of some of the principal constellations. He wished to
+ascertain if the ice-field was still drifting.
+
+In half an hour he returned and sat down in a corner of the hut,
+where he remained without stirring all night, motionless as if
+asleep, but in reality buried in deepest thought.
+
+The next day the snow fell heavily, and the Doctor congratulated
+himself on his wise forethought, when he saw the white sheet lying
+three feet thick over the scene of the explosion, completely
+obliterating all traces of the Forward.
+
+It was impossible to venture outside in such weather, but the stove
+drew capitally, and made the hut quite comfortable, or at any rate
+it seemed so to the weary, worn out adventurers.
+
+The American was in less pain, and was evidently gradually coming
+back to life. He opened his eyes, but could not yet speak, for his
+lips were so affected by the scurvy that articulation was
+impossible, but he could hear and understand all that was said to
+him. On learning what had passed, and the circumstances of his
+discovery, he expressed his thanks by gestures, and the Doctor was
+too wise to let him know how brief his respite from death would
+prove. In three weeks at most every vestige of food would be gone.
+
+About noon Hatteras roused himself, and going up to his friends,
+said--
+
+"We must make up our minds what to do, but I must request Johnson
+to tell me first all the particulars of the mutiny on the brig, and
+how this final act of baseness came about."
+
+"What good will that do?" said the Doctor. "The fact is
+certain, and it is no use thinking over it."
+
+"I differ from your opinion," rejoined Hatteras. "Let me hear
+the whole affair from Johnson, and then I will banish it from my
+thoughts."
+
+"Well," said the boatswain, "this was how it happened. I did
+all in my power to prevent, but----"
+
+"I am sure of that, Johnson; and what's more, I have no doubt
+the ringleaders had been hatching their plans for some time."
+
+"That's my belief too," said the Doctor.
+
+[Illustration: Johnson's Story. --P.11]
+
+"And so it is mine," resumed Johnson; "for almost immediately
+after your departure Shandon, supported by the others, took the
+command of the ship.
+
+I could not resist him, and from that moment everybody did pretty
+much as they pleased. Shandon made no attempt to restrain them: it
+was his policy to make them believe that their privations and toils
+were at an end. Economy was entirely disregarded. A blazing fire was
+kept up in the stove, and the men were allowed to eat and drink at
+discretion; not only tea and coffee was at their disposal, but all
+the spirits on board, and on men who had been so long deprived of
+ardent liquors, you may guess the result. They went on in this
+manner from the 7th to the 15th of January."
+
+"And this was Shandon's doing?" asked Hatteras.
+
+"Yes, captain."
+
+"Never mention his name to me again! Go on, Johnson."
+
+"It was about the 24th or 25th of January, that they resolved to
+abandon the ship. Their plan was to reach the west coast of
+Baffin's Bay, and from thence to embark in the boat and follow the
+track of the whalers, or to get to some of the Greenland settlements
+on the eastern side. Provisions were abundant, and the sick men were
+so excited by the hope of return that they were almost well. They
+began their preparations for departure by making a sledge which they
+were to draw themselves, as they had no dogs. This was not ready
+till the 15th of February, and I was always hoping for your arrival,
+though I half dreaded it too, for you could have done nothing with
+the men, and they would have massacred you rather than remain on
+board. I tried my influence on each one separately, remonstrating
+and reasoning with them, and pointing out the dangers they would
+encounter, and also the cowardice of leaving you, but it was a mere
+waste of words; not even the best among them would listen to me.
+Shandon was impatient to be off, and fixed the 22nd of February for
+starting. The sledge and the boat were packed as closely as possible
+with provisions and spirits, and heaps of wood, to obtain which they
+had hewed the brig down to her water-line. The last day the men ran
+riot. They completely sacked the ship, and in a drunken paroxysm Pen
+and two or three others set it on fire. I fought and struggled
+against them, but they threw me down and assailed me with blows, and
+then the wretches, headed by Shandon, went off towards the east and
+were soon out of sight. I found myself alone on the burning ship,
+and what could I do? The fire-hole was completely blocked up with
+ice. I had not a single drop of water! For two days the Forward
+struggled with the flames, and you know the rest."
+
+A long silence followed the gloomy recital, broken at length by
+Hatteras, who said--
+
+"Johnson, I thank you; you did all you could to save my ship, but
+single-handed you could not resist. Again I thank you, and now let
+the subject be dropped. Let us unite efforts for our common
+salvation. There are four of us, four companions, four friends, and
+all our lives are equally precious. Let each give his opinion on the
+best course for us to pursue."
+
+"You ask us then, Hatteras," said the Doctor, "we are all
+devoted to you, and our words come from our hearts. But will you not
+state you own views first?"
+
+"That would be little use," said Hatteras, sadly; "my opinion
+might appear interested; let me hear all yours first."
+
+"Captain," said Johnson, "before pronouncing on such an
+important matter, I wish to ask you a question."
+
+"Ask it, then, Johnson."
+
+"You went out yesterday to ascertain our exact position; well, is
+the field drifting or stationary?"
+
+"Perfectly stationary. It had not moved since the last reckoning
+was made. I find we are just where we were before we left, in 80 deg.
+15" lat. and 97 deg. 35" long."
+
+"And what distance are we from the nearest sea to the west?"
+
+"About six hundred miles."
+
+"And that sea is----?"
+
+"Smith's Sound," was the reply.
+
+"The same that we could not get through last April?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Well, captain, now we know our actual situation, we are in a
+better position to determine our course of action."
+
+"Speak your minds, then," said Hatteras, again burying his head
+in his hands.
+
+"What do you say, Bell?" asked the Doctor.
+
+"It strikes me the case doesn't need long thinking over," said
+the carpenter. "We must get back at once without losing a single
+day or even a single hour, either to the south or west, and make our
+way to the nearest coast, even if we are two months doing it!"
+
+"We have only food for three weeks," replied Hatteras, without
+raising his head.
+
+"Very well," said Johnson, "we must make the journey in three
+weeks, since it is our last chance. Even if we can only crawl on our
+knees before we get to our destination, we must be there in
+twenty-five days."
+
+"This part of the Arctic Continent is unexplored. We may have to
+encounter difficulties. Mountains and glaciers may bar our
+progress," objected Hatteras.
+
+"I don't see that's any sufficient reason for not attempting
+it. We shall have to endure sufferings, no doubt, and perhaps many.
+We shall have to limit ourselves to the barest quantities of food,
+unless our guns should procure us anything."
+
+"There is only about half a pound of powder left," said Hatteras.
+
+"Come now, Hatteras, I know the full weight of your objections,
+and I am not deluding myself with vain hopes. But I think I can read
+your motive. Have you any practical suggestion to offer?"
+
+"No," said Hatteras, after a little hesitation.
+
+"You don't doubt our courage," continued the Doctor. "We
+would follow you to the last--you know that. But must we not,
+meantime, give up all hope of reaching the Pole? Your plans have
+been defeated by treachery. Natural difficulties you might have
+overcome, but you have been outmatched by perfidy and human
+weakness. You have done all that man could do, and you would have
+succeeded I am certain; but situated as we are now, are you not
+obliged to relinquish your projects for the present, and is not a
+return to England even positively necessary before you could
+continue them?"
+
+"Well, captain?" asked Johnson after waiting a considerable time
+for Hatteras to reply.
+
+Thus interrogated, he raised his head, and said in a constrained
+tone--
+
+"You think yourselves quite certain then of reaching the Sound,
+exhausted though you are, and almost without food?"
+
+"No," replied the Doctor, "but there is one thing certain, the
+Sound won't come to us, we must go to it. We may chance to find
+some Esquimaux tribes further south."
+
+"Besides, isn't there the chance of falling in with some ship
+that is wintering here?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Even supposing the Sound is blocked up, couldn't we get across
+to some Greenland or Danish settlement? At any rate, Hatteras, we
+can get nothing by remaining here. The route to England is towards
+the south, not the north."
+
+"Yes," said Bell, "Mr. Clawbonny is right. We must start, and
+start at once. We have been forgetting our country too long
+already."
+
+"Is this your advice, Johnson?" asked Hatteras again.
+
+"Yes, captain."
+
+"And yours, Doctor?"
+
+"Yes, Hatteras."
+
+Hatteras remained silent, but his face, in spite of himself,
+betrayed his inward agitation. The issue of his whole life hung on
+the decision he had to make, for he felt that to return to England
+was to lose all! He could not venture on a fourth expedition.
+
+The Doctor finding he did not reply, added--
+
+"I ought also to have said, that there is not a moment to lose.
+The sledge must be loaded with the provisions at once, and as much
+wood as possible. I must confess six hundred miles is a long
+journey, but we can, or rather we must make twenty miles a day,
+which will bring us to the coast about the 26th of March."
+
+"But cannot we wait a few days yet?" said Hatteras.
+
+"What are you hoping for?" asked Johnson.
+
+"I don't know. Who can tell the future? It is necessary, too,
+that you should get your strength a little recruited. You might sink
+down on the road with fatigue, without even a snow hut to shelter
+you."
+
+"But think of the terrible death that awaits us here," replied
+the carpenter.
+
+"My friends," said Hatteras, in almost supplicating tones;
+"you are despairing too soon. I should propose that we should seek
+our deliverance towards the north, but you would refuse to follow
+me, and yet why should there not be Esquimaux tribes round about the
+Pole as well as towards the south? The open sea, of the existence of
+which we are certified, must wash the shores of continents. Nature
+is logical in all her doings. Consequently vegetation must be found
+there when the earth is no longer ice-bound. Is there not a promised
+land awaiting us in the north from which you would flee?"
+
+Hatteras became animated as he spoke, and Doctor Clawbonny's
+excitable nature was so wrought upon that his decision began to
+waver. He was on the point of yielding, when Johnson, with his wiser
+head and calmer temperament, recalled him to reason and duty by
+calling out--
+
+"Come, Bell, let us be off to the sledge."
+
+"All right," said Bell, and the two had risen to leave the hut,
+when Hatteras exclaimed--
+
+"Oh, Johnson! You! you! Well, go! I shall stay, I shall stay!"
+
+"Captain!" said Johnson, stopping in spite of himself.
+
+"I shall stay, I tell you. Go! Leave me like the rest! Come, Duk,
+you and I will stay together."
+
+The faithful dog barked as if he understood, and settled himself
+down beside his master. Johnson looked at the Doctor, who seemed at
+a loss to know what to do, but came to the conclusion at last that
+the best way, meantime, was to calm Hatteras, even at the sacrifice
+of a day. He was just about to try the force of his eloquence in
+this direction, when he felt a light touch on his arm, and turning
+round saw Altamont who had crawled out of bed and managed to get on
+his knees. He was trying to speak, but his swollen lips could
+scarcely make a sound. Hatteras went towards him, and watched his
+efforts to articulate so attentively that in a few minutes he made
+out a word that sounded like Porpoise, and stooping over him he
+asked--
+
+"Is it the Porpoise?"
+
+Altamont made a sign in the affirmative, and Hatteras went on with
+his queries, now that he had found a clue.
+
+"In these seas?"
+
+The affirmative gesture was repeated.
+
+"Is she in the north?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Do you know her position?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Exactly?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+For a minute or so, nothing more was said, and the onlookers waited
+with palpitating hearts.
+
+Then Hatteras spoke again and said--
+
+"Listen to me. We must know the exact position of your vessel. I
+will count the degrees aloud, and you; will stop me when I come to
+the right one."
+
+The American assented by a motion of the head, and Hatteras began--
+
+"We'll take the longitude first. 105 deg., No? 106 deg., 107 deg.? It is
+to the west, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes," replied Altamont.
+
+"Let us go on, then: 109 deg., 110 deg., 112 deg., 114 deg., 116 deg., 118 deg.,
+120 deg."
+
+"Yes," interrupted the sick man.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"120 deg. of longitude, and how many minutes? I will count."
+
+Hatteras began at number one, and when he got to fifteen, Altamont
+made a sign to stop.
+
+"Very good," said Hatteras; "now for the latitude. Are you
+listening? 80 deg., 81 deg., 82 deg., 83 deg."
+
+Again the sign to stop was made.
+
+"Now for the minutes: 5', 10', 15', 20', 25', 30',
+35'."
+
+Altamont stopped him once more, and smiled feebly.
+
+"You say, then, that the Porpoise is in longitude 120 deg. 15', and
+latitude 83 deg. 35'?"
+
+"Yes," sighed the American, and fell back motionless in the
+Doctor's arms, completely overpowered by the effort he had made.
+
+"Friends!" exclaimed Hatteras; "you see I was right. Our
+salvation lies indeed in the north, always in the north. We shall be
+saved!"
+
+But the joyous, exulting words had hardly escaped his lips before a
+sudden thought made his countenance change. The serpent of jealousy
+had stung him, for this stranger was an American, and he had reached
+three degrees nearer the Pole than the ill-fated Forward.
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+
+A SEVENTEEN DAYS' MARCH.
+
+
+These first words of Altamont had completely changed the whole
+aspect of affairs, but his communication was still incomplete, and,
+after giving him a little time to rest, the Doctor undertook the
+task of conversing again with him, putting his questions in such a
+form that a movement of the head or eyes would be a sufficient
+answer.
+
+He soon ascertained that the Porpoise was a three-mast American
+ship, from New York, wrecked on the ice, with provisions and
+combustibles in abundance still on board, and that, though she had
+been thrown on her side, she had not gone to pieces, and there was
+every chance of saving her cargo.
+
+Altamont and his crew had left her two months previously, taking the
+long boat with them on a sledge. They intended to get to Smith's
+Sound, and reach some whaler that would take them back to America;
+but one after another succumbed to fatigue and illness, till at last
+Altamont and two men were all that remained out of thirty; and truly
+he had survived by a providential miracle, while his two companions
+already lay beside him in the sleep of death.
+
+Hatteras wished to know why the Porpoise had come so far north, and
+learned in reply that she had been irresistibly driven there by the
+ice. But his anxious fears were not satisfied with this explanation,
+and he asked further what was the purpose of his voyage. Altamont
+said he wanted to make the north-west passage, and this appeared to
+content the jealous Englishman, for he made no more reference to the
+subject. "Well," said the Doctor, "it strikes me that, instead
+of trying to get to Baffin's Bay, our best plan would be to go in
+search of the Porpoise, for here lies a ship a full third of the
+distance nearer, and, more than that, stocked with everything
+necessary for winter quarters."
+
+"I see no other course open to us," replied Bell.
+
+"And the sooner we go the better," added Johnson, "for the
+time we allow ourselves must depend on our provisions."
+
+"You are right, Johnson," returned the Doctor. "If we start
+to-morrow, we must reach the Porpoise by the 15th of March, unless
+we mean to die of starvation. What do you say, Hatteras?"
+
+"Let us make preparations immediately, but perhaps the route may
+be longer than we suppose."
+
+"How can that be, captain? The man seems quite sure of the
+position of his ship," said the Doctor.
+
+"But suppose the ice-field should have drifted like ours?"
+
+Here Altamont, who was listening attentively, made a sign that he
+wished to speak, and, after much difficulty, he succeeded in telling
+the Doctor that the Porpoise had struck on rocks near the coast, and
+that it was impossible for her to move.
+
+This was re-assuring information, though it cut off all hope of
+returning to Europe, unless Bell could construct a smaller ship out
+of the wreck.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+No time was lost in getting ready to start. The sledge was the
+principal thing, as it needed thorough repair. There was plenty of
+wood, and, profiting by the experience they had recently had of this
+mode of transit, several improvements were made by Bell.
+
+Inside, a sort of couch was laid for the American, and covered over
+with the tent. The small stock of provisions did not add much to the
+weight, but, to make up the deficiency, as much wood was piled up on
+it as it could hold.
+
+The Doctor did the packing, and made an exact calculation of how
+long their stores would last. He found that, by allowing
+three-quarter rations to each man and full rations to the dogs, they
+might hold out for three weeks.
+
+Towards seven in the evening, they felt so worn out that they were
+obliged to give up work for the night; but, before lying down to
+sleep, they heaped up the wood in the stove, and made a roaring
+fire, determined to allow themselves this parting luxury. As they
+gathered round it, basking in the unaccustomed heat, and enjoying
+their hot coffee and biscuits and pemmican, they became quite
+cheerful, and forgot all their sufferings.
+
+About seven in the morning they set to work again and by three in
+the afternoon everything was ready.
+
+It was almost dark, for, though the sun had reappeared above the
+horizon since the 31st of January, his light was feeble and of short
+duration. Happily the moon would rise about half-past six, and her
+soft beams would give sufficient light to show the road.
+
+The parting moment came. Altamont was overjoyed at the idea of
+starting, though the jolting would necessarily increase his
+sufferings, for the Doctor would find on board the medicines he
+required for his cure.
+
+They lifted him on to the sledge, and laid him as comfortably as
+possible, and then harnessed the dogs, including Duk. One final look
+towards the icy bed where the Forward had been, and the little party
+set out for the Porpoise. Bell was scout, as before; the Doctor and
+Johnson took each a side of the sledge, and lent a helping hand when
+necessary; while Hatteras walked behind to keep all in the right
+track.
+
+They got on pretty quickly, for the weather was good, and the ice
+smooth and hard, allowing the sledge to glide easily along, yet the
+temperature was so low that men and dogs were soon panting, and had
+often to stop and take breath. About seven the moon shone out, and
+irradiated the whole horizon. Far as the eye could see, there was
+nothing visible but a wide-stretching level plain of ice, without a
+solitary hummock or patch to relieve the uniformity.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+As the Doctor remarked to his companion, it looked like some vast,
+monotonous desert.
+
+"Ay! Mr. Clawbonny, it is a desert, but we shan't die of thirst
+in it at any rate."
+
+"That's a comfort, certainly, but I'll tell you one thing: it
+proves, Johnson, we must be a great distance from any coast. The
+nearer the coast, the more numerous the icebergs in general, and you
+see there is not one in sight."
+
+"The horizon is rather misty, though."
+
+"So it is, but ever since we started, we have been on this same
+interminable ice-field."
+
+"Do you know, Mr. Clawbonny, that smooth as this ice is, we are
+going over most dangerous ground? Fathomless abysses lie beneath our
+feet."
+
+"That's true enough, but they won't engulph us. This white
+sheet over them is pretty tough, I can tell you. It is always
+getting thicker too; for in these latitudes, it snows nine days out
+of ten even in April and May; ay, and in June as well. The ice here,
+in some parts, cannot be less than between thirty and forty feet
+thick."
+
+"That sounds reassuring, at all events." said Johnson.
+
+"Yes, we're not like the skaters on the Serpentine--always in
+danger of falling through. This ice is strong enough to bear the
+weight of the Custom House in Liverpool, or the Houses of Parliament
+in Westminster."
+
+"Can they reckon pretty nearly what ice will bear, Mr.
+Clawbonny?" asked the old sailor, always eager for information.
+
+"What can't be reckoned now-a-days? Yes, ice two inches thick
+will bear a man; three and a half inches, a man on horse-back; five
+inches, an eight pounder; eight inches, field artillery; and ten
+inches, a whole army."
+
+"It is difficult to conceive of such a power of resistance, but
+you were speaking of the incessant snow just now, and I cannot help
+wondering where it comes from, for the water all round is frozen,
+and what makes the clouds?"
+
+"That's a natural enough question, but my notion is that nearly
+all the snow or rain that we get here comes from the temperate
+zones. I fancy each of those snowflakes was originally a drop of
+water in some river, caught up by evaporation into the air, and
+wafted over here in the shape of clouds; so that it is not
+impossible that when we quench our thirst with the melted snow, we
+are actually drinking from the very rivers of our own native land."
+
+Just at this moment the conversation was interrupted by Hatteras,
+who called out that they were getting out of the straight line. The
+increasing mist made it difficult to keep together, and at last,
+about eight o'clock, they determined to come to a halt, as they
+had gone fifteen miles. The tent was put up and the stove lighted,
+and after their usual supper they lay down and slept comfortably
+till morning.
+
+The calm atmosphere was highly favourable, for though the cold
+became intense, and the mercury was always frozen in the
+thermometer, they found no difficulty in continuing their route,
+confirming the truth of Parry's assertion that any man suitably
+clad may walk abroad with impunity in the lowest temperature,
+provided there is no wind; while, on the other hand, the least
+breeze would make the skin smart acutely, and bring on violent
+headache, which would soon end in death.
+
+On the 5th of March a peculiar phenomenon occurred. The sky was
+perfectly clear and glittering with stars, when suddenly snow began
+to fall thick and fast, though there was not a cloud in the heavens
+and through the white flakes the constellations could be seen
+shining. This curious display lasted two hours, and ceased before
+the Doctor could arrive at any satisfactory conclusion as to its
+cause.
+
+The moon had ended her last quarter, and complete darkness prevailed
+now for seventeen hours out of the twenty-four. The travellers had
+to fasten themselves together with a long rope to avoid getting
+separated, and it was all but impossible to pursue the right course.
+Moreover, the brave fellows, in spite of their iron will, began to
+show signs of fatigue. Halts became more frequent, and yet every
+hour was precious, for the provisions were rapidly coming to an end.
+
+Hatteras hardly knew what to think as day after day went on without
+apparent result, and he asked himself sometimes whether the Porpoise
+had any actual existence except in Altamont's fevered brain, and
+more than once the idea even came into his head that perhaps
+national hatred might have induced the American to drag them along
+with himself to certain death.
+
+He told the Doctor his suppositions, who rejected them absolutely,
+and laid them down to the score of the unhappy rivalry that had
+arisen already between the two captains.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+On the 14th of March, after sixteen days' march the little party
+found themselves only yet in the 82 deg. latitude. Their strength was
+exhausted, and they had a hundred miles more to go. To increase
+their sufferings, rations had to be still further reduced. Each man
+must be content with a fourth part to allow the dogs their full
+quantity.
+
+Unfortunately they could not rely at all on their guns, for only
+seven charges of powder were left, and six balls. They had fired at
+several hares and foxes on the road already, but unsuccessfully.
+
+However, on the 15th, the Doctor was fortunate enough to surprise a
+seal basking on the ice, and, after several shots, the animal was
+captured and killed.
+
+Johnson soon had it skinned and cut in pieces, but it was so lean
+that it was worthless as food, unless its captors would drink the
+oil like the Esquimaux.
+
+The Doctor was bold enough to make the attempt, but failed in spite
+of himself.
+
+Next day several icebergs and hummocks were noticed on the horizon.
+Was this a sign that land was near, or was it some ice-field that
+had broken up? It was difficult to know what to surmise.
+
+On arriving at the first of these hummocks, the travellers set to
+work to make a cave in it where they could rest more comfortably
+than in the tent, and after three hours' persevering toil, were
+able to light their stove and lie down beside it to stretch their
+weary limbs.
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+
+THE LAST CHARGE OF POWDER
+
+
+Johnson was obliged to take the dogs inside the hut, for they would
+have been soon frozen outside in such dry weather. Had it been
+snowing they would have been safe enough, for the snow served as a
+covering, and kept in the natural heat of the animals.
+
+The old sailor, who made a first-rate dog-driver, tried his beasts
+with the oily flesh of the seal; and found, to his joyful surprise,
+that they ate it greedily. The Doctor said he was not astonished at
+this, as in North America the horses were chiefly fed on fish; and
+he thought that what would satisfy an herbivorous horse might surely
+content an omnivorous dog.
+
+The whole party were soon buried in deep sleep, for they were fairly
+overcome with fatigue. Johnson awoke his companions early next
+morning, and the march was resumed in haste. Their lives depended
+now on their speed, for provisions would only hold out three days
+longer.
+
+The sky was magnificent; the atmosphere extremely clear, and the
+temperature very low. The sun rose in the form of a long ellipse,
+owing to refraction, which made his horizontal diameter appear twice
+the length of his vertical.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The Doctor, gun in hand, wandered away from the others, braving the
+solitude and the cold in the hope of discovering game. He had only
+sufficient powder left to load three times, and he had just three
+balls. That was little enough should he encounter a bear, for it
+often takes ten or twelve shots to have any effect on these enormous
+animals.
+
+But the brave Doctor would have been satisfied with humbler game. A
+few hares or foxes would be a welcome addition to their scanty food;
+but all that day, if even he chanced to see one, either he was too
+far away, or he was deceived by refraction, and took a wrong aim. He
+came back to his companions at night with crestfallen looks, having
+wasted one ball and one charge of powder.
+
+Next day the route appeared more difficult, and the weary men could
+hardly drag themselves along. The dogs had devoured even the
+entrails of the seal, and began to gnaw their traces.
+
+A few foxes passed in the distance, and the Doctor lost another ball
+in attempting to shoot them.
+
+They were forced to come to a halt early in the evening, though the
+road was illumined by a splendid Aurora Borealis; for they could not
+put one foot before the other.
+
+Their last meal, on the Sunday evening, was a very sad one--if no
+providential help came, their doom was sealed.
+
+Johnson set a few traps before going to sleep, though he had no
+baits to put inside them. He was very disappointed to find them all
+empty in the morning, and was returning gloomily to the hut, when he
+perceived a bear of huge dimensions. The old sailor took it into his
+head that Heaven had sent this beast specially for him to kill; and
+without waking his comrades, he seized the Doctor's gun, and was
+soon in pursuit of his prey. On reaching the right distance, he took
+aim; but, just as his finger touched the trigger, he felt his arm
+tremble. His thick gloves hampered him, and, flinging them hastily
+off, he took up the gun with a firmer grasp. But what a cry of agony
+escaped him! The skin of his fingers stuck to the gun as if it had
+been
+
+red-hot, and he was forced to let it drop. The sudden fall made it
+go off, and the last ball was discharged in the air.
+
+The Doctor ran out at the noise of the report, and understood all at
+a glance. He saw the animal walking quietly off, and poor Johnson
+forgetting his sufferings in his despair.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"I am a regular milksop!" he exclaimed, "a cry-baby, that
+can't stand the least pain! And at my age, too!"
+
+"Come, Johnson; go in at once, or you will be frost-bitten. Look
+at your hands--they are white already! Come, come this minute."
+
+"I am not worth troubling about, Mr. Clawbonny," said the old
+boatswain. "Never mind me!"
+
+"But you must come in, you obstinate fellow. Come, now, I tell
+you; it will be too late presently."
+
+At last he succeeded in dragging the poor fellow into the tent,
+where he made him plunge his hands into a
+
+bowl of water, which the heat of the stove kept in a liquid state,
+though still cold. Johnson's hands had hardy touched it before it
+froze immediately.
+
+"You see it was high time you came in; I should have been forced
+to amputate soon," said the Doctor.
+
+Thanks to his endeavours, all danger was over in about an hour, but
+he was advised to keep his hands at a good distance from the stove
+for some time still.
+
+That morning they had no breakfast. Pemmican and salt beef were both
+done. Not a crumb of biscuit remained. They were obliged to content
+themselves with half a cup of hot coffee, and start off again.
+
+They scarcely went three miles before they were compelled to give up
+for the day. They had no supper but coffee, and the dogs were so
+ravenous that they were almost devouring each other.
+
+Johnson fancied he could see the bear following them in the
+distance, but he made no remark to his companions. Sleep forsook the
+unfortunate men, and their eyes grew wild and haggard.
+
+Tuesday morning came, and it was thirty-four hours since they had
+tasted a morsel of food. Yet these brave, stout-hearted men
+continued their march, sustained by their superhuman energy of
+purpose. They pushed the sledge themselves, for the dogs could no
+longer draw it.
+
+At the end of two hours, they sank exhausted. Hatteras urged them to
+make a fresh attempt, but his entreaties and supplications were
+powerless; they could not do impossibilities.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Well, at any rate," he said, "I won't die of cold if I must
+of hunger." He set to work to hew out
+
+a hut in an iceberg, aided by Johnson, and really they looked like
+men digging their own tomb.
+
+It was hard labour, but at length the task was accomplished. The
+little house was ready, and the miserable men took up their abode in
+it.
+
+In the evening, while the others lay motionless, a sort of
+hallucination came over Johnson, and he began raving about bears.
+
+The Doctor roused himself from his torpor, and asked the old man
+what he meant, and what bear he was talking about.
+
+"The bear that is following us," replied Johnson.
+
+"A bear following us?"
+
+"Yes, for the last two days!"
+
+"For the last two days! You have seen him?"
+
+"Yes, about a mile to leeward."
+
+"And you never told me, Johnson!"
+
+"What was the good!"
+
+"True enough," said the Doctor; "we have not a single bail to
+send after him!"
+
+"No, not even a bit of iron!"
+
+The Doctor was silent for a minute, as if thinking. Then he said--
+
+"Are you quite certain the animal is following us?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Clawbonny, he is reckoning on a good feed of human
+flesh!"
+
+"Johnson!" exclaimed the Doctor, grieved at the despairing mood
+of his companion.
+
+"He is sure enough of his meal!" continued the
+
+"You have no ball!"
+
+"I'll make one."
+
+"You have no lead!"
+
+"No, but I have mercury."
+
+So saying, he took the thermometer, which stood at 50 deg. above zero,
+and went outside and laid it on a block of ice. Then he came in
+again, and said, "Tomorrow! Go to sleep, and wait till the sun
+rises."
+
+With the first streak of dawn next day, the Doctor and Johnson
+rushed out to look at the thermometer. All the mercury had frozen
+into a compact cylindrical mass. The Doctor broke the tube and took
+it out. Here was a hard piece of metal ready for use.
+
+"It is wonderful, Mr. Clawbonny; you ought to be a proud man."
+
+"Not at all, my friend, I am only gifted with a good memory, and I
+have read a great deal."
+
+"How did that help you?"
+
+"Why, I just happened to recollect a fact related by Captain Ross
+in his voyages. He states that they pierced a plank, an inch thick,
+with a bullet made of mercury. Oil would even have suited my
+purpose, for, he adds, that a ball of frozen almond oil splits
+through a post without breaking in pieces."
+
+"It is quite incredible!"
+
+"But it is a fact, Johnson. Well, come now, this bit of metal may
+save our lives. We'll leave it exposed to the air a little while,
+and go and have a look for the bear."
+
+Just then Hatteras made his appearance, and the
+
+Doctor told him his project, and showed him the mercury.
+
+The captain grasped his hand silently, and the three hunters went
+off in quest of their game.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The weather was very clear, and Hatteras, who was a little ahead of
+the others, speedily discovered the bear about three hundred yards
+distant, sitting on his hind quarters sniffing the air, evidently
+scenting the intruders on his domains.
+
+"There he is!" he exclaimed.
+
+"Hush!" cried the Doctor.
+
+But the enormous quadruped, even when he perceived his antagonists,
+never stirred, and displayed neither fear nor anger. It would not be
+easy to get near him, however, and Hatteras said--
+
+"Friends, this is no idle sport, our very existence is at stake;
+we must act prudently."
+
+"Yes," replied the Doctor, "for we have but the one shot to
+depend upon. We must not miss, for if Away they went, while the old
+boatswain slipped behind a hummock, which completely hid him from
+the bear, who continued still in the same place and in the same
+position.
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+
+THE SEAL AND THE BEAR.
+
+
+"You know, Doctor," said Hatteras, as they returned to the hut,
+"the polar bears subsist almost entirely on seals. They'll lie
+in wait for them beside the crevasses for whole days, ready to
+strangle them the moment their heads appear above the surface. It is
+not likely, then, that a bear will be frightened of a seal."
+
+"I think I see what you are after, but it is dangerous."
+
+"Yes, but there is more chance of success than in trying any other
+plan, so I mean to risk it. I am going to dress myself in the
+seal's skin, and creep along the ice. Come, don't let us lose
+time. Load the gun and give it me."
+
+The Doctor could not say anything, for he would have done the same
+himself, so he followed Hatteras silently to the sledge, taking with
+him a couple of hatchets for his own and Johnson's use.
+
+Hatteras soon made his toilette, and slipped into the skin, which
+was big enough to cover him almost entirely.
+
+"Now, then, give me the gun," he said, "and you be off to
+Johnson. I must try and steal a march on my adversary."
+
+"Courage, Hatteras!" said the Doctor, handing him the weapon,
+which he had carefully loaded meanwhile.
+
+"Never fear! but be sure you don't show yourselves till I
+fire."
+
+The Doctor soon joined the old boatswain behind the hummock, and
+told him what they had been doing. The bear was still there, but
+moving restlessly about, as if he felt the approach of danger.
+
+In a quarter of an hour or so the seal made his appearance on the
+ice. He had gone a good way round, so as to come on the bear by
+surprise, and every movement was so perfect an imitation of a seal,
+that even the Doctor would have been deceived if he had not known it
+was Hatteras.
+
+"It is capital!" said Johnson, in a low voice. The bear had
+instantly caught sight of the supposed seal, for he gathered himself
+up, preparing to make a spring as the animal came nearer, apparently
+seeking to return to his native element, and unaware of the
+enemy's proximity. Bruin went to work with extreme prudence,
+though his eyes glared with greedy desire to clutch the coveted
+prey, for he had probably been fasting a month, if not two. He
+allowed his victim to get within ten paces of him, and then sprang
+forward with a tremendous bound, but stopped short, stupefied and
+frightened, within three steps of Hatteras, who started up that
+moment, and, throwing off his disguise, knelt on one knee, and aimed
+straight at the bear's heart. He fired, and the huge monster
+rolled back on the ice.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Forward! Forward!" shouted the Doctor, hurrying towards
+Hatteras, for the bear had reared on his hind legs, and was striking
+the air with one paw and tearing up the snow to stanch his wound
+with the other.
+
+Hatteras never moved, but waited, knife in hand. He had aimed well,
+and fired with a sure and steady aim. Before either of his
+companions came up he had plunged the knife in the animal's
+throat, and made an end of him, for he fell down at once to rise no
+more.
+
+"Hurrah! Bravo!" shouted Johnson and the Doctor, but Hatteras
+was as cool and unexcited as possible, and stood with folded arms
+gazing at his prostrate foe.
+
+"It is my turn now," said Johnson. "It is a good thing the
+bear is killed, but if we leave him out here much longer, he will
+get as hard as a stone, and we shall be able to do nothing with
+him."
+
+He began forthwith to strip the skin off, and a fine business it
+was, for the enormous quadruped was almost as large as an ox. It
+measured nearly nine feet long, and four round, and the great tusks
+in his jaws were three inches long.
+
+On cutting the carcase open, Johnson found nothing but water in the
+stomach. The beast had evidently had no food for a long time, yet it
+was very fat, and weighed fifteen hundred pounds. The hunters were
+so famished that they had hardly patience to carry home the flesh to
+be cooked, and it needed all the Doctor's persuasion to prevent
+them eating it raw.
+
+On entering the hut, each man with a load on his back, Clawbonny was
+struck with the coldness that pervaded the atmosphere. On going up
+to the stove he found the fire black out. The exciting business of
+the morning had made Johnson neglect his accustomed duty of
+replenishing the stove.
+
+The Doctor tried to blow the embers into a flame, but finding he
+could not even get a red spark, he went out to the sledge to fetch
+tinder, and get the steel from Johnson.
+
+The old sailor put his hand into his pocket, but was surprised to
+find the steel missing. He felt in the other pockets, but it was not
+there. Then he went into the hut again, and shook the blanket he had
+slept in all night, but his search was still unsuccessful.
+
+He went back to his companions and said--
+
+"Are you sure, Doctor, you haven't the steel?"
+
+"Quite, Johnson."
+
+"And you haven't it either, captain?"
+
+"Not I!" replied Hatteras.
+
+"It has always been in your keeping," said the Doctor.
+
+"Well, I have not got it now!" exclaimed Johnson, turning pale.
+
+"Not got the steel!" repeated the Doctor, shuddering
+involuntarily at the bare idea of its loss, for it was all the means
+they had of procuring a fire.
+
+"Look again, Johnson," he said.
+
+The boatswain hurried to the only remaining place he could think of,
+the hummock where he had stood to watch the bear. But the missing
+treasure was nowhere to be found, and the old sailor returned in
+despair.
+
+Hatteras looked at him, but no word of reproach escaped his lips. He
+only said--
+
+"This is a serious business, Doctor."
+
+"It is, indeed!" said Clawbonny.
+
+"We have not even an instrument, some glass that we might take the
+lens out of, and use like a burning glass."
+
+"No, and it is a great pity, for the sun's rays are quite strong
+enough just now to light our tinder."
+
+"Well," said Hatteras, "we must just appease our hunger with
+the raw meat, and set off again as soon as we can, to try to
+discover the ship."
+
+"Yes!" replied Clawbonny, speaking to himself, absorbed in his
+own reflections. "Yes, that might do at a pinch! Why not? We might
+try."
+
+"What are you dreaming about?" asked Hatteras.
+
+"An idea has just occurred to me."
+
+"An idea come into your head, Doctor," exclaimed Johnson;
+"then we are saved!"
+
+"Will it succeed? that's the question."
+
+"What's your project?" said Hatteras.
+
+"We want a lens; well, let us make one."
+
+"How?" asked Johnson.
+
+"With a piece of ice."
+
+"What? Do you think that would do?"
+
+"Why not? All that is needed is to collect the sun's rays into
+one common focus, and ice will serve that purpose as well as the
+finest crystal."
+
+"Is it possible?" said Johnson.
+
+"Yes, only I should like fresh water ice, it is harder and more
+transparent than the other."
+
+"There it is to your hand, if I am not much mistaken," said
+Johnson, pointing to a hummock close by.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"I fancy that is fresh water, from the dark look of it, and the
+green tinge."
+
+"You are right. Bring your hatchet, Johnson."
+
+A good-sized piece was soon cut off, about a foot in diameter, and
+the Doctor set to work. He began by chopping it into rough shape
+with the hatchet; then he operated upon it more carefully with his
+knife, making as smooth a surface as possible, and finished the
+polishing process with his fingers, rubbing away until he had
+obtained as transparent a lens as if it had been made of magnificent
+crystal.
+
+The sun was shining brilliantly enough for the Doctor's
+experiment. The tinder was fetched, and held beneath the lens so as
+to catch the rays in full power. In a few seconds it took fire, to
+Johnson's rapturous delight.
+
+He danced about like an idiot, almost beside himself with joy, and
+shouted, "Hurrah! hurrah!" while Clawbonny hurried back into the
+hut and rekindled the fire. The stove was soon roaring, and it was
+not many minutes before the savoury odour of broiled bear-steaks
+roused Bell from his torpor.
+
+What a feast this meal was to the poor starving men may be imagined.
+The Doctor, however, counselled moderation in eating, and set the
+example himself.
+
+"This is a glad day for us," he said, "and we have no fear of
+wanting food all the rest of our journey. Still we must not forget
+we have further to go yet, and I think the sooner we start the
+better."
+
+"We cannot be far off now," said Altamont, who could almost
+articulate perfectly again; "we must be within forty-eight
+hours' march of the Porpoise."
+
+"I hope we'll find something there to make a fire with," said
+the Doctor, smiling. "My lens does well enough at present; but it
+needs the sun, and there are plenty of days when he does not make
+his appearance here, within less than four degrees of the pole."
+
+"Less than four degrees!" repeated Altamont, with a sigh;
+"yes, my ship went further than any other has ever ventured."
+
+"It is time we started," said Hatteras, abruptly.
+
+"Yes," replied the Doctor, glancing uneasily at the two captains.
+
+The dogs were speedily harnessed to the sledge, and the march
+resumed. [Illustration: ]
+
+As they went along, the Doctor tried to get out of Altamont the real
+motive that had brought him so far north. But the American made only
+evasive replies, and Clawbonny whispered in old Johnson's ear--
+
+"Two men we've got that need looking after."
+
+"You are right," said Johnson.
+
+"Hatteras never says a word to this American, and I must say the
+man has not shown himself very grateful. I am here, fortunately."
+
+"Mr. Clawbonny," said Johnson, "now this Yankee has come back
+to life again, I must confess I don't much like the expression of
+his face."
+
+"I am much mistaken if he does not suspect the projects of
+Hatteras."
+
+"Do you think his own were similar?"
+
+"Who knows? These Americans, Johnson, are bold, daring fellows. It
+is likely enough an American would try to do as much as an
+Englishman."
+
+"Then you think that Altamont--"
+
+"I think nothing about it, but his ship is certainly on the road
+to the North Pole."
+
+"But didn't Altamont say that he had been caught among the ice,
+and dragged there irresistibly?"
+
+"He said so, but I fancied there was a peculiar smile on his lips
+while he spoke."
+
+"Hang it! It would be a bad job, Mr. Clawbonny, if any feeling of
+rivalry came between two men of their stamp."
+
+"Heaven forfend! for it might involve the most serious
+consequences, Johnson."
+
+"I hope Altamont will remember he owes his life to us?"
+
+"But do we not owe ours to him now? I grant, without us, he would
+not be alive at this moment, but without him and his ship, what
+would become of us?"
+
+"Well, Mr. Clawbonny, you are here to keep things straight anyhow,
+and that is a blessing."
+
+"I hope I may manage it, Johnson."
+
+The journey proceeded without any fresh incident, but on the
+Saturday morning the travellers found themselves in a region of
+quite an altered character. Instead of the wide smooth plain of ice
+that had hitherto stretched before them, overturned icebergs and
+broken hummocks covered the horizon; while the frequent blocks of
+fresh-water ice showed that some coast was near.
+
+Next day, after a hearty breakfast off the bear's paws, the little
+party continued their route; but the road became toilsome and
+fatiguing. Altamont lay watching the horizon with feverish
+anxiety--an anxiety shared by all his companions, for, according to
+the last reckoning made by Hatteras, they were now exactly in
+latitude 83 deg. 35" and longitude 120 deg. 15", and the question of
+life or death would be decided before the day was over.
+
+At last, about two o'clock in the afternoon, Altamont started up
+with a shout that arrested the whole party, and pointing to a white
+mass that no eye but his could have distinguished from the
+surrounding icebergs, exclaimed in a loud, ringing voice, "The
+Porpoise."
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+
+THE PORPOISE
+
+
+It was the 24th of March, and Palm Sunday, a bright, joyous day in
+many a town and village of the Old World, but in this desolate
+region what mournful silence prevailed! No willow branches here with
+their silvery blossom--not even a single withered leaf to be seen
+--not a blade of grass!
+
+Yet this was a glad day to the travellers, for it promised them
+speedy deliverance from the death that had seemed so inevitable.
+
+They hastened onward, the dogs put forth renewed energy, and Duk
+barked his loudest, till, before long, they arrived at the ship. The
+Porpoise was completely buried under the snow. All her masts and
+rigging had been destroyed in the shipwreck, and she was lying on a
+bed of rocks so entirely on her side that her hull was uppermost.
+
+They had to knock away fifteen feet of ice before they could even
+catch a glimpse of her, and it was not without great difficulty that
+they managed to get on board, and made the welcome discovery that
+the provision stores had not been visited by any four-footed
+marauders. It was quite evident, however, that the ship was not
+habitable.
+
+"Never mind!" said Hatteras, "we must build a snow-house, and
+make ourselves comfortable on land."
+
+"Yes, but we need not hurry over it," said the Doctor; "let us
+do it well while we're about it, and for a time we can make shift
+on board; for we must build a good, substantial house, that will
+protect us from the bears as well as the cold. I'll undertake to
+be the architect, and you shall see what a first-rate job I'll
+make of it."
+
+"I don't doubt your talents, Mr. Clawbonny," replied Johnson;
+"but, meantime, let us see about taking up our abode here, and
+making an inventory of the stores we find. There does not seem a
+boat visible of any description, and I fear these timbers are in too
+bad a condition to build a new ship out of them."
+
+"I don't know that," returned Clawbonny, "time and thought
+do wonders; but our first business is to build a house, and not a
+ship; one thing at a time, I propose."
+
+"And quite right too," said Hatteras; "so we'll go ashore
+again."
+
+They returned to the sledge, to communicate the result of their
+investigation to Bell and Altamont; and about four in the afternoon
+the five men installed themselves as well as they could on the
+wreck. Bell had managed to make a tolerably level floor with planks
+and spars; the stiffened cushions and hammocks were placed round the
+stove to thaw, and were soon fit for use. Altamont, with the
+Doctor's assistance, got on board without much trouble, and a sigh
+of satisfaction escaped him as if he felt himself once more at
+home--a sigh which to Johnson's ear boded no good.
+
+The rest of the day was given to repose, and they wound up with a
+good supper off the remains of the bear, backed by a plentiful
+supply of biscuit and hot tea.
+
+[Illustration: The poor fellows felt like colonists safely arrived
+at their destination--P.57]
+
+It was late next morning before Hatteras and his companions woke,
+for their minds were not burdened now with any solicitudes about the
+morrow, and they might sleep as long as they pleased. The poor
+fellows felt like colonists safely arrived at their destination, who
+had forgotten all the sufferings of the voyage, and thought only of
+the new life that lay before them.
+
+"Well, it is something at all events," said the Doctor, rousing
+himself and stretching his arms, "for a fellow not to need to ask
+where he is going to find his next bed and breakfast."
+
+"Let us see what there is on board before we say much," said
+Johnson.
+
+The Porpoise has been thoroughly equipped and provisioned for a long
+voyage, and, on making an inventory of what stores remained, they
+found 6150 lbs. of flour, fat, and raisins; 2000 lbs. of salt beef
+and pork, 1500 lbs. of pemmican; 700 lbs. of sugar, and the same of
+chocolate; a chest and a half of tea, weighing 96 lbs.; 500 lbs. of
+rice; several barrels of preserved fruits and vegetables; a quantity
+of lime-juice, with all sorts of medicines, and 300 gallons of rum
+and brandy. There was also a large supply of gunpowder, ball, and
+shot, and coal and wood in abundance.
+
+Altogether, there was enough to last those five men for more than
+two years, and all fear of death from starvation or cold was at an
+end.
+
+"Well, Hatteras, we're sure of enough to live on now," said
+the Doctor, "and there is nothing to hinder us reaching the
+Pole."
+
+"The Pole!" echoed Hatteras.
+
+"Yes, why not? Can't we push our way overland in the summer
+months?"
+
+"We might overland; but how could we cross water?"
+
+"Perhaps we may be able to build a boat out of some of the
+ship's planks."
+
+"Out of an American ship!" exclaimed the captain, contemptuously.
+
+Clawbonny was prudent enough to make no reply, and presently changed
+the conversation by saying--
+
+"Well, now we have seen what we have to depend upon, we must begin
+our house and store-rooms. We have materials enough at hand; and,
+Bell, I hope you are going to distinguish yourself," he added.
+
+"I am ready, Mr. Clawbonny," replied Bell; "and, as for
+material, there is enough for a town here with houses and streets."
+
+"We don't require that; we'll content ourselves with imitating
+the Hudson's Bay Company. They entrench themselves in fortresses
+against the Indians and wild beasts. That's all we need--a house
+one side and stores the other, with a wall and two bastions. I must
+try to make a plan."
+
+"Ah! Doctor, if you undertake it," said Johnson, "I am sure
+you'll make a good thing of it."
+
+"Well, the first part of the business is to go and choose the
+ground. Will you come with us Hatteras?"
+
+"I'll trust all that to you, Doctor," replied the captain.
+"I'm going to look along the coast."
+
+Altamont was too feeble yet to take part in any work, so he remained
+on the ship, while the others commenced to explore the unknown
+continent.
+
+On examining the coast, they found that the Porpoise was in a sort
+of bay bristling with dangerous rocks, and that to the west, far as
+the eye could reach, the sea extended, entirely frozen now, though
+if Belcher and Penny were to be believed, open during the summer
+months. Towards the north, a promontory stretched out into the sea,
+and about three miles away was an island of moderate size. The
+roadstead thus formed would have afforded safe anchorage to ships,
+but for the difficulty of entering it. A considerable distance
+inland there was a solitary mountain, about 3000 feet high, by the
+Doctor's reckoning; and half-way up the steep rocky cliffs that
+rose from the shore, they noticed a circular plateau, open on three
+sides to the bay and sheltered on the fourth by a precipitous wall,
+120 feet high.
+
+This seemed to the Doctor the very place for this house, from its
+naturally fortified situation. By cutting steps in the ice, they
+managed to climb up and examine it more closely.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+They were soon convinced they could not have a better foundation,
+and resolved to commence operations forthwith, by removing the hard
+snow more than ten feet deep, which covered the ground, as both
+dwelling and storehouses must have a solid foundation.
+
+This preparatory work occupied the whole of Monday, Tuesday, and
+Wednesday. At last they came to hard granite close in grain, and
+containing garnets and felspar crystals, which flew out with every
+stroke of the pickaxe.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The dimensions and plan of the snow-house were then settled by the
+Doctor. It was to be divided into three rooms, as all they needed
+was a bed-room, sitting-room and kitchen. The sitting-room was to be
+in the middle, the kitchen to the left, and the bed-room to the
+right.
+
+For five days they toiled unremittingly. There was plenty of
+material, and the walls required to be thick enough to resist summer
+thaws. Already the house began to present an imposing appearance.
+There were four windows in front, made of splendid sheets of ice, in
+Esquimaux fashion, through which the light came softly in as if
+through frosted glass.
+
+Outside there was a long covered passage between the two windows of
+the sitting-room. This was the entrance hall, and it was shut in by
+a strong door taken from the cabin of the Porpoise. The Doctor was
+highly delighted with his performance when all was finished, for
+though it would have been difficult to say to what style of
+architecture it belonged, it was strong, and that was the chief
+thing.
+
+The next business was to move in all the furniture of the Porpoise.
+The beds were brought first and laid down round the large stove in
+the sleeping room; then came chairs, tables, arm-chairs, cupboards,
+and benches for the sitting-room, and finally the ship furnaces and
+cooking utensils for the kitchen. Sails spread on the ground did
+duty for carpets, and also served for inner doors.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The walls of the house were over five feet thick, and the windows
+resembled port-holes for cannon. Every part was as solid as
+possible, and what more was wanted? Yet if the Doctor could have had
+his way, he would have made all manner of ornamental additions, in
+humble imitation of the Ice Palace built in St. Petersburgh in
+January, 1740, of which he had read an account. He amused his
+companions after work in the evening by describing its grandeur, the
+cannons in front, and statues of exquisite beauty, and the wonderful
+elephant that spouted water out of his trunk by day and flaming
+naphtha by night--all cut out of ice. He also depicted the
+interior, with tables, and toilette tables, mirrors, candelabra,
+tapers, beds, mattresses, pillows, curtains, time-pieces, chairs,
+playing-cards, wardrobes, completely fitted up--in fact, everything
+in the way of furniture that could be mentioned, and the whole
+entirely composed of ice.
+
+It was on Easter Sunday, the 31st of March, when the travellers
+installed themselves in their new abode and after holding divine
+service in the sitting-room, they devoted the remainder of the day
+to rest.
+
+Next morning they set about building the storehouses and powder
+magazine. This took a whole week longer, including the time spent in
+unloading the vessel, which was a task of considerable difficulty,
+as the temperature was so low, that they could not work for many
+hours at a time. At length on the 8th of April, provisions, fuel,
+and ammunition were all safe on terra firma, and deposited in their
+respective places. A sort of kennel was constructed a little
+distance from the house for the Greenland dogs, which the Doctor
+dignified by the name of "Dog Palace." Duk shared his master's
+quarters.
+
+All that now remained to be done was to put a parapet right round
+the plateau by way of fortification.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+By the 15th this was also completed, and the snow-house might bid
+defiance to a whole tribe of Esquimaux, or any other hostile
+invaders, if indeed any human beings whatever were to be found on
+this unknown continent, for Hatteras, who had minutely examined the
+bay and the surrounding coast, had not been able to discover the
+least vestiges of the huts that are generally met with on shores
+frequented by Greenland tribes. The shipwrecked sailors of the
+Porpoise and Forward seemed to be the first whose feet had ever trod
+this lone region.
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+
+AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.
+
+
+While all these preparations for winter were going on Altamont was
+fast regaining strength. His vigorous constitution triumphed, and he
+was even able to lend a helping hand in the unlading of the ship. He
+was a true type of the American, a shrewd, intelligent man, full of
+energy and resolution, enterprising, bold, and ready for anything.
+He was a native of New York, he informed his companions, and had
+been a sailor from his boyhood.
+
+The Porpoise had been equipped and sent out by a company of wealthy
+merchants belonging to the States, at the head of which was the
+famous Grinnell.
+
+There were many points of resemblance between Altamont and Hatteras,
+but no affinities. Indeed, any similarity that there was between
+them, tended rather to create discord than to make the men friends.
+With a greater show of frankness, he was in reality far more deep
+and crafty than Hatteras. He was more free and easy, but not so
+true-hearted, and somehow his apparent openness did not inspire such
+confidence as the Englishman's gloomy reserve.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The Doctor was in constant dread of a collision between the rival
+captains, and yet one must command inevitably, and which should it
+be! Hatteras had the men, but Altamont had the ship, and it was hard
+to say whose was the better right.
+
+It required all the Doctor's tact to keep things smooth, for the
+simplest conversation threatened to lead to strife.
+
+At last, in spite of all his endeavours, an outbreak occurred on the
+occasion of a grand banquet by way of "house-warming," when the
+new habitation was completed.
+
+This banquet was Dr Clawbonny's idea. He was head-cook, and
+distinguished himself by the concoction of a wonderful pudding,
+which would positively have done no dishonour to the cuisine of the
+Lord Chancellor of England.
+
+Bell most opportunely chanced to shoot a white hare and several
+ptarmigans, which made an agreeable variety from the pemmican and
+salt meat.
+
+Clawbonny was master of the ceremonies, and brought in his pudding,
+adorning himself with the insignia of his office--a big apron, and
+a knife dangling at his belt.
+
+As Altamont did not conform to the teetotal regime of his English
+companions, gin and brandy were set on the table after dinner, and
+the others, by the Doctor's orders, joined him in a glass for
+once, that the festive occasion might be duly honoured. When the
+different toasts were being drunk, one was given to the United
+States, to which Hatteras made no response.
+
+This important business over, the Doctor introduced an interesting
+subject of conversation by saying--
+
+"My friends, it is not enough to have come thus far in spite of so
+many difficulties; we have something more yet to do. I propose we
+should bestow a name on this continent, where we have found friendly
+shelter and rest, and not only on the continent, but on the several
+bays, peaks, and promontories that we meet with. This has been
+invariably done by navigators and is a most necessary proceeding."
+
+"Quite right," said Johnson, "when once a place is named, it
+takes away the feeling of being castaways on an unknown shore."
+
+"Yes," added Bell, "and we might be going on some expedition
+and obliged to separate, or go out hunting, and it would make it
+much easier to find one another if each locality had a definite
+name."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Very well; then," said the Doctor, "since we are all agreed,
+let us go steadily to work."
+
+Hatteras had taken no part in the conversation as yet, but seeing
+all eyes fixed on him, he rose at last, and said--
+
+"If no one objects, I think the most suitable name we can give our
+house is that of its skilful architect, the best man among us. Let
+us call it 'Doctor's House.'"
+
+"Just the thing!" said Bell.
+
+"First rate!" exclaimed Johnson, "'Doctor's House!'"
+
+"We cannot do better," chimed in Altamont. "Hurrah for Doctor
+Clawbonny."
+
+Three hearty cheers were given, in which Duk joined lustily, barking
+his loudest.
+
+"It is agreed then," said Hatteras, "that this house is to be
+called 'Doctor's House.'"
+
+The Doctor, almost overcome by his feelings, modestly protested
+against the honour; but he was obliged to yield to the wishes of his
+friends, and the new habitation was formally named "Doctor's
+House."
+
+"Now, then," said the Doctor, "let us go onto name the most
+important of our discoveries."
+
+"There is that immense sea which surrounds us, unfurrowed as yet
+by a single ship."
+
+"A single ship!" repeated Altamont. "I think you have
+forgotten the Porpoise, and yet she certainly did not get here
+overland,"
+
+"Well, it would not be difficult to believe she had," replied
+Hatteras, "to see on what she lies at present."
+
+"True, enough, Hatteras," said Altamont, in a piqued tone;
+"but, after all, is not that better than being blown to atoms like
+the Forward?"
+
+Hatteras was about to make some sharp retort, but Clawbonny
+interposed.
+
+"It is not a question of ships, my friends," he said, "but of
+a fresh sea."
+
+"It is no new sea," returned Altamont; "it is in every Polar
+chart, and has a name already. It is called the Arctic Ocean, and I
+think it would be very inconvenient to alter its designation. Should
+we find out by and by, that, instead of being an ocean it is only a
+strait or gulf, it will be time enough to alter it then."
+
+"So be it," said Hatteras.
+
+"Very well, that is an understood thing, then," said the Doctor,
+almost regretting that he had started a discussion so pregnant with
+national rivalries.
+
+"Let us proceed with the continent where we find ourselves at
+present," resumed Hatteras. "I am not aware that any name
+whatever has been affixed to it, even in the most recent charts."
+
+He looked at Altamont as he spoke, who met his gaze steadily, and
+said--
+
+"Possibly you may be mistaken again, Hatteras."
+
+"Mistaken! What! This unknown continent, this virgin soil----"
+
+"Has already a name," replied Altamont, coolly.
+
+Hatteras was silent, but his lip quivered.
+
+"And what name has it, then?" asked the Doctor, rather
+astonished at Altamont's affirmation.
+
+"My dear Clawbonny," replied the American, "it is the custom,
+not to say the right, of every navigator to christen the soil on
+which he is the first to set foot. It appears to me, therefore, that
+it is my privilege and duty on this occasion to exercise my
+prerogative, and--"
+
+"But, sir," interrupted Johnson, rather nettled at his sang
+froid.
+
+"It would be a difficult matter to prove that the Porpoise did not
+come here, even supposing she reached this coast by land,"
+continued Altamont, without noticing Johnson's protest. "The
+fact is indisputable," he added looking at Hatteras.
+
+[Illustration: "I dispute the claim," said the Englishman,
+restraining himself by a powerful effort.--P.72]
+
+"I dispute the claim," said the Englishman, restraining himself
+by a powerful effort. "To name a country, you must first discover
+it, I suppose, and that you certainly did not do. Besides, but for
+us, where would you have been, sir, at this moment, pray? Lying
+twenty feet deep under the snow."
+
+"And without me, sir," retorted Altamont, hotly, "without me
+and my ship, where would you all be at this moment? Dead, from cold
+and hunger."
+
+"Come, come, friends," said the Doctor, "don't get to words,
+all that can be easily settled. Listen to me."
+
+"Mr. Hatteras," said Altamont, "is welcome to name whatever
+territories he may discover, should he succeed in discovering any;
+but this continent belongs to me. I should not even consent to its
+having two names like Grinnell's Land, which is also called Prince
+Albert's Land, because it was discovered almost simultaneously by
+an Englishman and an American. This is quite another matter; my
+right of priority is incontestable. No ship before mine ever touched
+this shore, no foot before mine ever trod this soil. I have given it
+a name, and that name it shall keep."
+
+"And what is that name?" inquired the Doctor.
+
+"New America," replied Altamont.
+
+Hatteras trembled with suppressed passion, but by a violent effort
+restrained himself.
+
+"Can you prove to me," said Altamont, "that an Englishman has
+set foot here before an American?"
+
+Johnson and Bell said nothing, though quite as much offended as the
+captain by Altamont's imperious tone. They felt that reply was
+impossible.
+
+For a few minutes there was an awkward silence, which the Doctor
+broke by saying--
+
+"My friends, the highest human law is justice. It includes all
+others. Let us be just, then, and don't let any bad feeling get in
+among us. The priority of Altamont seems to me indisputable. We will
+take our revenge by and by, and England will get her full share in
+our future discoveries. Let the name New America stand for the
+continent itself, but I suppose Altamont has not yet disposed of all
+the bays, and capes, and headlands it contains, and I imagine there
+will be nothing to prevent us calling this bay Victoria Bay?"
+
+"Nothing whatever, provided that yonder cape is called Cape
+Washington," replied Altamont.
+
+"You might choose a name, sir," exclaimed Hatteras, almost
+beside himself with passion, "that is less offensive to an
+Englishman."
+
+"But not one which sounds so sweet to an American," retorted
+Altamont, proudly.
+
+"Come, come," said the Doctor, "no discussion on that subject.
+An American has a perfect right to be proud of his great countryman!
+Let us honour genius wherever it is met with; and since Altamont has
+made his choice, let us take our turn next; let the captain----"
+
+"Doctor!" interrupted Hatteras, "I have no wish that my name
+should figure anywhere on this continent, seeing that it belongs to
+America."
+
+"Is this your unalterable determination?" asked Clawbonny.
+
+"It is."
+
+The Doctor did not insist further.
+
+"Very well, we'll have it to ourselves then," he continued,
+turning to Johnson and Bell. "We'll leave our traces behind us.
+I propose that the island we see out there, about three miles away
+from the shore, should be called Isle Johnson, in honour of our
+boatswain,''
+
+"Oh, Mr. Clawbonny," began Johnson, in no little confusion.
+
+"And that mountain that we discovered in the west we will call
+Bell Mount, if our carpenter is willing."
+
+"It is doing me too much honour," replied Bell.
+
+"It is simple justice," returned the Doctor.
+
+"Nothing could be better," said Altamont.
+
+"Now then, all we have to do is to christen our fort," said the
+Doctor, "about that there will be no discussion, I hope, for it is
+neither to our gracious sovereign Queen Victoria, nor to Washington,
+that we owe our safety and shelter here, but to God, who brought
+about our meeting, and by so doing saved us all. Let our little fort
+be called Fort Providence."
+
+"Your remarks are just," said Altamont; "no name could be more
+suitable."
+
+"Fort Providence," added Johnson, "sounds well too. In our
+future excursions, then, we shall go by Cape Washington to Victoria
+Bay, and from thence to Fort Providence, where we shall find food
+and rest at Doctor's House!"
+
+"The business is settled then so far," resumed the Doctor. "As
+our discoveries multiply we shall have other names to give; but I
+trust, friends, we shall have no disputes about them, for placed as
+we are, we need all the help and love we can give each other. Let us
+be strong by being united. Who knows what dangers yet we may have to
+brave, and what sufferings to endure before we see our native land
+once more. Let us be one in heart though five in number, and let us
+lay aside all feelings of rivalry. Such feelings are bad enough at
+all times, but among us they would be doubly wrong. You understand
+me, Altamont, and you, Hatteras?"
+
+Neither of the captains replied, but the Doctor took no notice of
+their silence, and went on to speak of other things. Sundry
+expeditions were planned to forage for fresh food. It would soon be
+spring, and hares and partridges, foxes and bears would re-appear.
+So it was determined that part of every day should be spent in
+hunting and exploring this unknown continent of New America.
+
+[Illustration: Clambering up the steep, rocky wall, against which
+the Doctor's House leaned, he succeeded, though with considerable
+difficulty, in reaching the top.--P.77]
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+
+AN EXCURSION TO THE NORTH OF VICTORIA BAY
+
+
+Next morning Clawbonny was out by dawn of day. Clambering up the
+steep, rocky wall, against which the Doctor's House leaned, he
+succeeded, though with considerable difficulty, in reaching the top,
+which he found terminated abruptly in a sort of truncated cone. From
+this elevation there was an extensive view over a vast tract of
+country, which was all disordered and convulsed as if it had
+undergone some volcanic commotion. Sea and land, as far as it was
+possible to distinguish one from the other, were covered with a
+sheet of ice.
+
+A new project struck the Doctor's mind, which was soon matured and
+ripe for execution. He lost no time in going back to the snow house,
+and consulting over it with his companions.
+
+"I have got an idea," he said; "I think of constructing a
+lighthouse on the top of that cone above our heads."
+
+"A lighthouse!" they all exclaimed.
+
+"Yes, a lighthouse. It would be a double advantage. It would be a
+beacon to guide us in distant excursions, and also serve to illumine
+our plateau in the long dreary winter months."
+
+"There is no doubt," replied Altamont, "of its utility; but
+how would you contrive to make it?"
+
+"With one of the lanterns out of the Porpoise."
+
+"All right; but how will you feed your lamp? With seal oil?"
+
+"No, seal oil would not give nearly sufficient light. It would
+scarcely be visible through the fog."
+
+"Are you going to try to make gas out of our coal then?"
+
+"No, not that either, for gas would not be strong enough; and,
+worse still, it would waste our combustibles."
+
+"Well," replied Altamont; "I'm at a loss to see how you--"
+
+"Oh, I'm prepared for everything after the mercury bullet, and
+the ice lens, and Fort Providence. I believe Mr. Clawbonny can do
+anything," exclaimed Johnson.
+
+"Come, Clawbonny, tell us what your light is to be, then," said
+Altamont.
+
+"That's soon told," replied Clawbonny. "I mean to have an
+electric light."
+
+"An electric light?"
+
+"Yes, why not? Haven't you a galvanic battery on board your
+ship?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, there will be no difficulty then in producing an electric
+light, and that will cost nothing, and be far brighter."
+
+"First-rate?" said Johnson; "let us set to work at once."
+
+"By all means. There is plenty of material. In an hour we can
+raise a pillar of ice ten feet high, and that is quite enough.
+
+Away went the Doctor, followed by his companions, and the column was
+soon erected and crowned with a ship lantern. The conducting wires
+were properly adjusted within it, and the pile with which they
+communicated fixed up in the sitting-room, where the warmth of the
+stove would protect it from the action of the frost.
+
+As soon as it grew dark the experiment was made, and proved a
+complete success. An intense brilliant light streamed from the
+lantern and illumined the entire plateau and the plains beneath.
+
+Johnson could not help clapping his hands, half beside himself with
+delight.
+
+"Well, I declare, Mr. Clawbonny," he exclaimed, "you're our
+sun now."
+
+"One must be a little of everything, you know," was
+Clawbonny's modest reply.
+
+It was too cold. however, even to stand admiring more than a minute,
+and the whole party were glad enough to get indoors again, and tuck
+themselves up in their warm blankets.
+
+A regular course of life commenced now, though uncertain weather and
+frequent changes of temperature made it sometimes impracticable to
+venture outside the hut at all, and it was not till the Saturday
+after the installation, that a day came that was favourable enough
+for a hunting excursion; when Bell, and Altamont, and the Doctor
+determined to take advantage of it, and try to replenish their stock
+of provisions.
+
+They started very early in the morning, each armed with a
+double-barrelled gun and plenty of powder and shot, a hatchet, and a
+snow knife.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The weather was cloudy, but Clawbonny put the galvanic battery in
+action before he left, and the bright rays of the electric light did
+duty for the glorious orb of day, and in truth was no bad
+substitute, for the light was equal to three thousand candles, or
+three hundred gas burners.
+
+It was intensely cold, but dry, and there was little or no wind. The
+hunters set off in the direction of Cape Washington, and the hard
+snow so favoured their march, that in three hours they had gone
+fifteen miles, Duk jumping and barking beside them all the way. They
+kept as close to the coast as possible, but found no trace of human
+habitation and indeed scarcely a sign of animal life. A few snow
+birds, however, darting to and fro announced the approach of spring
+and the return of the animal creation. The sea was still entirely
+frozen over, but it was evident from the open breathing holes in the
+ice, that the seals had been quite recently on the surface. In one
+part the holes were so numerous, that the Doctor said to his
+companions that he had no doubt that when summer came, they would be
+seen there in hundreds, and would be easily captured, for on
+unfrequented shores they were not so difficult of approach. But once
+frighten them and they all vanish as if by enchantment, and never
+return to the spot again. "Inexperienced hunters," he said,
+"have often lost a whole shoal by attacking them, en masse, with
+noisy shouts instead of singly and silently."
+
+"Is it for the oil or skin that they are mostly hunted?"
+
+"Europeans hunt them for the skin, but the Esquimaux eat them.
+They live on seals, and nothing is so delicious to them as a piece
+of the flesh, dipped in the blood and oil. After all, cooking has a
+good deal to do with it, and I'll bet you something I could dress
+you cutlets you would not turn up your nose at, unless for their
+black appearance."
+
+"We'll set you to work on it," said Bell, "and I'll eat as
+much as you like to please you."
+
+"My good Bell, you mean to say to please yourself, but your
+voracity would never equal the Green-landers', for they devour
+from ten to fifteen pounds of meat a day."
+
+"Fifteen pounds!" said Bell. "What stomachs!"
+
+"Arctic stomachs," replied the Doctor, "are prodigious; they
+can expand at will, and, I may add, contract at will; so that they
+can endure starvation quite as well as abundance. When an Esquimaux
+sits down to dinner he is quite thin, and by the time he has
+finished, he is so corpulent you would hardly recognize him. But
+then we must remember that one meal sometimes has to last a whole
+day."
+
+"This voracity must be peculiar to the inhabitants of cold
+countries," said Altamont.
+
+"I think it is," replied the Doctor. "In the Arctic regions
+people must eat enormously: it is not only one of the conditions of
+strength, but of existence. The Hudson's Bay Company always
+reckoned on this account 8 lbs. of meat to each man a day, or 12
+lbs. of fish, or 2 lbs. of pemmican."
+
+"Invigorating regimen, certainly!" said Bell.
+
+"Not so much as you imagine, my friend. An Indian who guzzles like
+that can't do a whit better day's work than an Englishman, who
+has his pound of beef and pint of beer."
+
+"Things are best as they are, then, Mr. Clawbonny."
+
+"No doubt of it; and yet an Esquimaux meal may well astonish us.
+In Sir John Ross's narrative, he states his surprise at the
+appetites of his guides. He tells us that two of them--just two
+mind--devoured a quarter of a buffalo in one morning. They cut the
+meat in long narrow strips, and the mode of eating was either for
+the one to bite off as much as his mouth could hold, and then pass
+it on to the other, or to leave the long ribbons of meat dangling
+from the mouth and devour them gradually like boa-constrictors,
+lying at full length on the ground."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Faugh!" exclaimed Bell, "what disgusting brutes!"
+
+"Every man has his own fashion of dining," remarked the
+philosophical American.
+
+"Happily," said the Doctor.
+
+"Well, if eating is such an imperative necessity in these
+latitudes, it quite accounts for all the journals of Arctic
+travellers being so full of eating and drinking."
+
+"You are right," returned the Doctor. "I have been struck by
+the same fact; but I think it arises not only from the necessity of
+full diet, but from the extreme difficulty sometimes in procuring
+it. The thought of food is always uppermost in the mind, and
+naturally finds mention in the narrative."
+
+"And yet," said Altamont, "if my memory serves me right, in
+the coldest parts of Norway the peasants do not seem to need such
+substantial fare. Milk diet is their staple food, with eggs, and
+bread made of the bark of the birch-tree; a little salmon
+occasionally, but never meat; and still they are fine hardy
+fellows."
+
+"It is an affair of organization out of my power to explain,"
+replied Clawbonny; "but I have no doubt that if these same
+Norwegians were transplanted to Greenland, they would learn to eat
+like the Esquimaux by the second or third generation. Even if we
+ourselves were to remain in this blessed country long, we should be
+as bad as the Esquimaux, even if we escaped becoming regular
+gluttons."
+
+"I declare, Mr. Clawbonny, you make me feel hungry with talking so
+much about eating," exclaimed Bell.
+
+"Not I!" said Altamont. "It rather sickens me, and makes me
+loathe the sight of a seal. But, stop, I do believe we are going to
+have the chance of a dinner off one, for I am much mistaken if
+that's not something alive lying on those lumps of ice yonder!"
+
+"It is a walrus!" exclaimed the Doctor. "Be quiet, and let us
+get up to him."
+
+Clawbonny was right, it was a walrus of huge dimensions, disporting
+himself not more than two hundred yards away. The hunters separated,
+going in different directions, so as to surround the animal and cut
+off all retreat. They crept along cautiously behind the hummocks,
+and managed to get within a few paces of him unperceived, when they
+fired simultaneously.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The walrus rolled over, but speedily got up again, and tried to make
+his escape, but Altamont fell upon him with his hatchet, and cut off
+his dorsal fins. He made a desperate resistance, but was overpowered
+by his enemies, and soon lay dead, reddening the ice-field with his
+blood.
+
+It was a fine animal, measuring more than fifteen feet in length,
+and would have been worth a good deal for the oil; but the hunters
+contented themselves with cutting off the most savoury parts, and
+left the rest to the ravens, which had just begun to make their
+appearance.
+
+Night was drawing on, and it was time to think of returning to Fort
+Providence. The moon had not yet risen, but the sky was serene and
+cloudless, and already glittering with stars--magnificent stars.
+
+"Come," said the Doctor, "let us be off, for it is getting
+late. Our hunting has not been very successful; but still, if a man
+has found something for his supper, he need not grumble. Let us go
+the shortest road, however, and get quickly home without losing our
+way. The stars will guide us."
+
+They resolved to try a more direct route back by going further
+inland, and avoiding the windings of the coast; but, after some
+hours' walking, they found themselves no nearer Doctor's House,
+and it was evident that they must have lost their way. The question
+was raised whether to construct a hut and rest till morning, or
+proceed; but Clawbonny insisted on going on, as Hatteras and Johnson
+would be so uneasy.
+
+"Duk will guide us," he said; "he won't go wrong. His
+instinct can dispense with star and compass. Just let us keep close
+behind him."
+
+They did well to trust to Duk, for very speedily a faint light
+appeared in the horizon almost like a star glimmering through the
+mist, which hung low above the ground.
+
+"There's our lighthouse!" exclaimed the Doctor.
+
+"Do you think it is, Mr. Clawbonny?" said Bell.
+
+[Illustration: Soon they were walking in a bright luminous track,
+leaving their long shadows behind them on the spotless snow. --P.87]
+
+"I'm certain of it! Come on faster." The light became stronger
+the nearer they approached, and soon they were walking in a bright
+luminous track, leaving their long shadows behind them on the
+spotless snow.
+
+Quickening their steps, they hastened forward, and in another half
+hour they were climbing the ascent to Fort Providence.
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+
+COLD AND HEAT.
+
+
+Hatteras and Johnson had been getting somewhat uneasy at the
+prolonged absence of their companions, and were delighted to see
+them back safe and sound. The hunters were no less glad to find
+themselves once more in a warm shelter, for the temperature had
+fallen considerably as night drew on, and the thermometer outside
+was 73 deg. below zero.
+
+The poor hunters were half frozen, and so worn out that they could
+hardly drag their limbs along; but the stoves were roaring and
+crackling cheerily, and the big kitchen fire waiting to cook such
+game as might be brought in. Clawbonny donned his official apron
+again, and soon had his seal cutlets dressed and smoking on the
+table. By nine o'clock the whole party were enjoying a good
+supper, and Bell couldn't help exclaiming--
+
+"Well, even at the risk of being taken for an Esquimaux, I must
+confess eating is the most important business if one has to winter
+in these regions. A good meal isn't to be sneezed at."
+
+They all had their mouths crammed too full to speak, but the Doctor
+signified his agreement with Bell's views by an approving nod.
+
+The cutlets were pronounced first-rate, and it seemed as if they
+were, for they were all eaten, to the very last morsel.
+
+For dessert they had coffee, which the Doctor brewed himself in a
+French coffee-pot over spirits-of-wine. He never allowed anybody but
+himself to concoct this precious beverage; for he made a point of
+serving it boiling hot, always declaring it was not fit to drink
+unless it burnt his tongue. This evening he took it so scalding that
+Altamont exclaimed--
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"You'll skin your throat!"
+
+"Not a bit of it," was the Doctor's reply.
+
+"Then your palate must be copper-sheathed," said Johnson.
+
+"Not at all, friends. I advise you to copy my example. Many
+persons, and I am one, can drink coffee at a temperature of 131 deg."
+
+"131 deg.?" said Altamont; "why, that is hotter than the hand
+could bear!"
+
+"Of course it is, Altamont, for the hand could not bear more than
+122 deg., but the palate and tongue are less sensitive."
+
+"You surprise me."
+
+"Well, I will convince you it is fact," returned Clawbonny, and
+taking up a thermometer, he plunged it into the steaming coffee. He
+waited till the mercury rose as high as 131 deg. and then withdrew it,
+and swallowed the liquid with evident gusto.
+
+Bell tried to follow his example, but burnt his mouth severely.
+
+"You are not used to it," said the Doctor, coolly.
+
+"Can you tell us, Clawbonny," asked Altamont, "what is the
+highest temperature that the human body can bear."
+
+"Yes, several curious experiments have been made in that respect.
+I remember reading of some servant girls, in the town of
+Rochefoucauld, in France, who could stay ten minutes in a baker's
+large oven when the temperature was 300 deg., while potatoes and meat
+were cooking all round them."
+
+"What girls!" exclaimed Altamont.
+
+"Well, there is another case, where eight of our own countrymen--
+Fordyce, Banks, Solander, Blagdin, Home, Nooth, Lord Seaforth, and
+Captain Phillips--went into one as hot as 200 deg., where eggs and
+beef were frizzling."
+
+"And they were Englishmen!" said Bell, with a touch of national
+pride.
+
+"Oh, the Americans could have done better than that," said
+Altamont.
+
+"They would have roasted," returned the Doctor, laughing. "At
+all events they have never tried it, so I shall stand up for my
+countrymen. There is one more instance I recollect, and really it is
+so incredible, that it would be impossible to believe it, if it were
+not attested by unimpeachable evidence. The Duke of Ragusa and
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Dr. Jung, a Frenchman and an Austrian, saw a Turk plunge into a bath
+at 170 deg."
+
+"But that is not so astonishing as those servant girls, or our own
+countrymen," said Johnson.
+
+"I beg your pardon," replied Clawbonny; "there is a great
+difference between plunging into hot air and hot water. Hot air
+produces perspiration, which protects the skin, but boiling water
+scalds. The maximum heat of baths is 107 deg., so that this Turk must
+have been an extraordinary fellow to endure such temperature."
+
+"What is the mean temperature, Mr. Clawbonny, of animated
+beings?" asked Johnson.
+
+"That varies with the species," replied the Doctor. "Birds
+have the highest, especially the duck and the hen. The mammalia come
+next, and human beings. The temperature of Englishmen averages
+101 deg."
+
+"I am sure Mr. Altamont is going to claim a higher rate for his
+countrymen," said Johnson, smiling.
+
+"Well, sure enough, we've some precious hot ones among us, but
+as I never have put a thermometer down their throats to ascertain, I
+can't give you statistics."
+
+"There is no sensible difference," said the Doctor, "between
+men of different races when they are placed under the same
+conditions, whatever their food may be. I may almost say their
+temperature would be the same at the Equator as the Pole."
+
+"Then the heat of our bodies is the same here as in England,"
+replied Altamont.
+
+"Just about it. The other species of mammalia are generally hotter
+than human beings. The horse, the hare, the elephant, the porpoise,
+and the tiger are nearly the same; but the cat, the squirrel, the
+rat, the panther, the sheep, the ox, the dog, the monkey, and the
+goat, are as high as 103 deg.; and the pig is 104 deg."
+
+"Rather humiliating to us," put in Altamont.
+
+"Then come the amphibia and the fish," resumed the Doctor,
+"whose temperature varies with that of the water. The serpent has a
+temperature of 86 deg., the frog 70 deg., and the shark several degrees
+less. Insects appear to have the temperature of air and water."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"All this is very well," interrupted Hatteras, who had hitherto
+taken no part in the conversation, "and we are obliged to the
+Doctor for his scientific information; but we are really talking as
+if we were going to brave the heat of the torrid zone. I think it
+would be far more seasonable to speak of cold, if the Doctor could
+tell us what is the lowest temperature on record."
+
+"I can enlighten you on that too," replied the Doctor. "There
+are a great number of memorable winters, which appear to have come
+at intervals of about forty-one years. In 1364, the Rhone was frozen
+over as far as Arles; in 1408, the Danube was frozen throughout its
+entire extent, and the wolves crossed the Cattigut on firm ground;
+in 1509, the Adriatic and the Mediterranean were frozen at Venice
+and Marseilles, and the Baltic on the 10th of April; in 1608, all
+the cattle died in England from the cold; in 1789, the Thames was
+frozen as far as Gravesend; and the frightful winter of 1813 will
+long be remembered in France. The earliest and longest ever known in
+the present century was in 1829. So much for Europe."
+
+"But here, within the Polar circle, what is the lowest degree?"
+asked Altamont.
+
+"My word!" said the Doctor. "I think we have experienced the
+lowest ourselves, for one day the thermometer was 72 deg. below zero,
+and, if my memory serves me right, the lowest temperature mentioned
+hitherto by Arctic voyagers has been 61 deg. at Melville Island, 65 deg.
+at Port Felix, and 70 deg. at Fort Reliance."
+
+"Yes," said Hatteras, "it was the unusual severity of the
+winter that barred our progress, for it came on just at the worst
+time possible."
+
+"You were stopped, you say?" asked Altamont, looking fixedly at
+the captain.
+
+"Yes, in our voyage west," the Doctor hastened to reply.
+
+"Then the maximum and minimum temperatures," said Altamont,
+resuming the conversation, "are about 200 deg. apart. So you see, my
+friends, we may make ourselves easy."
+
+"But if the sun were suddenly extinguished," suggested Johnson,
+"would not the earth's temperature be far lower?"
+
+"There is no fear of such a catastrophe; but, even should it
+happen, the temperature would be scarcely any different."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"That's curious."
+
+"It is; but Fourrier, a learned Frenchman, has proved the fact
+incontestably. If it were not the case, the difference between day
+and night would be far greater, as also the degree of cold at the
+Poles. But now I think, friends, we should be the better of a few
+hours' sleep. Who has charge of the stove?"
+
+"It is my turn to-night," said Bell.
+
+"Well, pray keep up a good fire, for it is a perishing night."
+
+"Trust me for that," said Bell. "But do look out, the sky is
+all in a blaze."
+
+"Ay! it is a magnificent aurora," replied the Doctor, going up
+to the window. "How beautiful! I never tire gazing at it."
+
+No more he ever did, though his companions had become so used to
+such displays that they hardly noticed them now. He soon followed
+the example of the others, however, and lay down on his bed beside
+the fire, leaving Bell to mount guard.
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+
+WINTER PLEASURES
+
+
+It is a dreary affair to live at the Pole, for there is no going out
+for many long months, and nothing to break the weary monotony.
+
+The day after the hunting excursion was dark and snowy, and
+Clawbonny could find no occupation except polishing up the ice walls
+of the hut as they became damp with the heat inside, and emptying
+out the snow which drifted into the long passage leading to the
+inner door. The "Snow-House" stood out well, defying storm and
+tempest, and the snow only seemed to increase the thickness of the
+walls.
+
+The storehouses, too, did not give way the least; but though they
+were only a few yards off, it was found necessary to lay in enough
+provisions for the day, as very often the weather made it almost
+impossible to venture that short distance.
+
+The unloading of the Porpoise turned out to have been a wise
+precaution, for she was slowly but surely being crashed to pieces by
+the silent, irresistible pressure around her. Still the Doctor was
+always hoping enough planks might be sufficiently sound to construct
+a small vessel to convey them back to England, but the right time to
+build had not come.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The five men were consequently compelled to spend the greater part
+of the day in complete idleness. Hatteras lolled on his bed absorbed
+in thought. Altamont smoked or dozed, and the Doctor took care not
+to disturb either of them, for he was in perpetual fear of a quarrel
+between them.
+
+At meal times he always led the conversation away from irritating
+topics and sought, as far as possible, to instruct and interest all
+parties. Whenever he was not engaged with the preparation of his
+notes, he gave them dissertations on history, geography, or
+meteorology, handling his subject in an easy, though philosophical
+manner, drawing lessons from the most trivial incidents. His
+inexhaustible memory was never at a loss for fact or illustration
+when his good humour and geniality made him the life and soul of the
+little company. He was implicitly trusted by all, even by Hatteras,
+who cherished a deep affection for him.
+
+Yet no man felt the compulsory confinement more painfully than
+Clawbonny. He longed ardently for the breaking up of the frost to
+resume his excursions though he dreaded the rivalry that might ensue
+between the two captains.
+
+Yet things must come to a crisis soon or late, and meantime he
+resolved to use his best endeavors to bring both parties to a better
+mind, but to reconcile an American and an Englishman was no easy
+task. He and Johnson had many a talk on the subject, for the old
+sailor's views quite coincided with his own as to the difficult
+complications which awaited them in the future.
+
+However, the bad weather continued, and leaving Fort Providence,
+even for an hour, was out of the question. Day and night they were
+pent up in these glittering ice-walls, and time hung heavily on
+their hands, at least on all but the Doctor's, and he always
+managed to find some occupation for himself.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"I declare," said Altamont, one evening; "life like this is
+not worth having. We might as well be some of those reptiles that
+sleep all the winter. But I suppose there is no help for it."
+
+"I am afraid not," said the Doctor; "unfortunately we are too
+few in number to get up any amusement."
+
+"Then you think if there were more of us, we should find more to
+do?"
+
+"Of course: when whole ships' crews have wintered here, they
+have managed to while away the time famously."
+
+"Well, I must say I should like to know how. It would need a vast
+amount of ingenuity to extract anything amusing out of our
+circumstances. I suppose they did not play at charades?"
+
+"No, but they introduced the press and the theatre."
+
+"What? They had a newspaper?" exclaimed the American.
+
+"They acted a comedy?" said Bell.
+
+"That they did," said the Doctor. "When Parry wintered at
+Melville Island, he started both amusements among his men, and they
+met with great success."
+
+"Well, I must confess, I should like to have been there,"
+returned Johnson; "for it must have been rather curious work."
+
+"Curious and amusing too, my good Johnson. Lieutenant Beechey was
+the theatre manager, and Captain Sabina chief editor of the
+newspaper called 'The Winter Chronicle, or the Gazette of Northern
+Georgia.'"
+
+"Good titles," said Altamont.
+
+"The newspaper appeared daily from the 1st of November, 1819, to
+the 20th of March, 1820. It reported the different excursions, and
+hunting parties, and accidents, and adventures, and published
+amusing stories. No doubt the articles were not up to the
+'Spectator' or the 'Daily Telegraph,' but the readers were
+neither critical nor blase, and found great pleasure in their
+perusal."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"My word!" said Altamont. "I should like to read some of the
+articles."
+
+"Would you? Well, you shall judge for yourself."
+
+"What! can you repeat them from memory?"
+
+"No; but you had Parry's Voyages on board the Porpoise, and I
+can read you his own narrative if you like."
+
+This proposition was so eagerly welcomed that the Doctor fetched the
+book forthwith, and soon found the passage in question.
+
+"Here is a letter," he said, "addressed to the editor."
+
+"'Your proposition to establish a journal has been received by
+us with the greatest satisfaction. I am convinced that, under your
+direction, it will be a great source of amusement, and go a long way
+to lighten our hundred days of darkness.
+
+"'The interest I take in the matter myself has led me to study
+the effect of your announcement on my comrades, and I can testify,
+to use reporter's language, that the thing has produced an immense
+sensation.
+
+"'The day after your prospectus appeared, there was an unusual
+and unprecedented demand for ink among us, and our green tablecloth
+was deluged with snippings and parings of quill-pens, to the injury
+of one of our servants, who got a piece driven right under his nail.
+I know for a fact that Sergeant Martin had no less than nine
+pen-knives to sharpen.
+
+"'It was quite a novel sight to see all the writing-desks
+brought out, which had not made their appearance for a couple of
+months, and judging by the reams of paper visible, more than one
+visit must have been made to the depths of the hold.
+
+"'I must not forget to tell you, that I believe attempts will
+be made to slip into your box sundry articles which are not
+altogether original, as they have been published already. I can
+declare that, no later than last night, I saw an author bending over
+his desk, holding a volume of the "Spectator" open with one
+hand, and thawing the frozen ink in his pen at the lamp with the
+other. I need not warn you to be on your guard against such tricks,
+for it would never do for us to have articles in our "Winter
+Chronicle" which our great-grandfathers read over their
+breakfast-tables a century ago.'"
+
+"Well, well," said Altamont, "there is a good deal of clever
+humour in that writer. He must have been a sharp fellow."
+
+"You're right. Here is an amusing catalogue of Arctic
+tribulations:--
+
+"'To go out in the morning for a walk, and the moment you put
+your foot outside the ship, find yourself immersed in the cook's
+water-hole.
+
+"'To go out hunting, and fall in with a splendid reindeer, take
+aim, and find your gun has gone off with a flash in the pan, owing
+to damp powder.
+
+"'To set out on a march with a good supply of soft new bread in
+your pocket, and discover, when you want to eat, that it has frozen
+so hard that you would break your teeth if you attempted to bite it
+through.
+
+"'To rush from the table when it is reported that a wolf is in
+sight, and on coming back to find the cat has eaten your dinner.
+
+"'To be returning quietly home from a walk, absorbed in
+profitable meditation, and suddenly find yourself in the embrace of
+a bear.'
+
+"We might supplement this list ourselves," said the Doctor,
+"to almost any amount, for there is a sort of pleasure in
+enumerating troubles when one has got the better of them."
+
+"I declare," said Altamont, "this 'Winter Journal' is an
+amusing affair. I wish we could subscribe to it."
+
+"Suppose we start one," said Johnson.
+
+"For us five!" exclaimed Clawbonny; "we might do for editors,
+but there would not be readers enough."
+
+"No, nor spectators enough, if we tried to get up a comedy,"
+added Altamont.
+
+"Tell us some more about Captain Parry's theatre," said
+Johnson; "did they play new pieces?"
+
+"Certainly. At first two volumes on board the 'Hecla' were
+gone through, but as there was a performance once a fortnight, this
+repertoire was soon exhausted. Then they had to improvise fresh
+plays; Parry himself composed one which had immense success. It was
+called 'The North-West Passage, or the End of the Voyage.'"
+
+"A famous title," said Altamont; "but I must confess, if I had
+chosen such a subject, I should have been at a loss for the
+denouement."
+
+"You are right," said Bell; "who can say what the end will
+be?"
+
+"What does that matter?" replied Mr. Clawbonny. "Why should we
+trouble about the last act, while the first ones are going on well.
+Leave all that to Providence, friends; let us each play our own
+role as perfectly as we can, and since the denouement belongs to
+the Great Author of all things, we will trust his skill. He will
+manage our affairs for us, never fear."
+
+"Well, we'd better go and dream about it," said Johnson,
+"for it's getting late, and it is time we went to bed," said
+Johnson.
+
+"You're in a great hurry, old fellow," replied the Doctor.
+
+"Why would you sit up, Mr. Clawbonny? I am so comfortable in my
+bed, and then I always have such good dreams. I dream invariably of
+hot countries, so that I might almost say, half my life is spent in
+the tropics, and half at the North Pole."
+
+"You're a happy man, Johnson," said Altamont, "to be blessed
+with such a fortunate organization."
+
+"Indeed I am," replied Johnson.
+
+"Well, come, after that it would be positive cruelty to keep our
+good friend pining here," said the Doctor, "his tropical sun
+awaits him, so let's all go to bed."
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+
+
+TRACES OF BEARS
+
+
+On the 26th of April during the night there was a sudden change in
+the weather. The thermometer fell several degrees, and the inmates
+of Doctor's House could hardly keep themselves warm even in their
+beds. Altamont had charge of the stove, and he found it needed
+careful replenishing to preserve the temperature at 50 deg. above zero.
+
+This increase of cold betokened the cessation of the stormy weather,
+and the Doctor hailed it gladly as the harbinger of his favourite
+hunting and exploring expeditions.
+
+He rose early next morning, and climbed up to the top of the cone.
+The wind had shifted north, the air was clear, and the snow firm and
+smooth to the tread.
+
+Before long the five companions had left Doctor's House, and were
+busily engaged in clearing the heavy masses of snow off the roof and
+sides, for the house was no longer distinguishable from the plateau,
+as the snow had drifted to a depth of full fifteen feet. It took two
+hours to remove the frozen snow, and restore the architectural form
+of the dwelling. At length the granite foundations appeared, and the
+storehouses and powder magazines were once more accessible.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+But as, in so uncertain a climate, a storm might cut off their
+supplies any day, they wisely resolved to provide for any such
+emergency by carrying over a good stock of provisions to the
+kitchen; and then Clawbonny, Altamont, and Bell started off with
+their guns in search of game, for the want of fresh food began to be
+urgently felt.
+
+The three companions went across the east side of the cone, right
+down into the centre of the far-stretching, snow-covered plain
+beneath, but they did not need to go far, for numerous traces of
+animals appeared on all sides within a circle of two miles round
+Fort Providence.
+
+After gazing attentively at these traces for some minutes, the
+hunters looked at each other silently, and then the Doctor
+exclaimed:--
+
+"Well, these are plain enough, I think!"
+
+"Ay, only too plain," added Bell, "bears have been here!"
+
+"First rate game!" said Altamont. "There's only one fault
+about it."
+
+"And what is that?" asked Bell.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean this--there are distinct traces of five bears, and five
+bears are rather too much for five men."
+
+"Are you sure there are five?" said Clawbonny.
+
+"Look and see for yourself. Here is one footprint, and there is
+another quite different. These claws are far wider apart than those;
+and see here, again, that paw belongs to a much smaller bear. I tell
+you, if you look carefully, you will see the marks of all five
+different bears distinctly."
+
+"You're right," said Bell, after a close inspection.
+
+"If that's the case, then," said the Doctor, "we must take
+care what we're about, and not be foolhardy, for these animals are
+starving after the severe winter, and they might be extremely
+dangerous to encounter and, since we are sure of their
+number----"
+
+"And of their intentions, too," put in Altamont.
+
+"You think they have discovered our presence here?"
+
+"No doubt of it, unless we have got into a bear-pass, but then,
+why should these footprints be in a circle round our fort? Look,
+these animals have come from the south-east, and stopped at this
+place, and commenced to reconnoitre the coast."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"You're right," said the Doctor, "and, what's more, it is
+certain that they have been here last night."
+
+"And other nights before that," replied Altamont.
+
+"I don't think so," rejoined Clawbonny. "It is more likely
+that they waited till the cessation of the tempest, and were on
+their way down to the bay, intending to catch seals, when they
+scented us."
+
+"Well, we can easily find out if they come tonight," said
+Altamont.
+
+"How?"
+
+"By effacing all the marks in a given place, and if to-morrow, we
+find fresh ones, it will be evident that Fort Providence is the goal
+for which the bears are bound."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Very good, at any rate we shall know, then, what we have to
+expect."
+
+The three hunters set to work, and scraped the snow over till all
+the footprints were obliterated for a considerable distance.
+
+"It is singular, though," said Bell, "that bears could scent
+us all that way off; we have not been burning anything fat which
+might have attracted them."
+
+"Oh!" replied the Doctor, "bears are endowed with a
+wonderfully keen sense of smell, and a piercing sight; and, more
+than that, they are extremely intelligent, almost more so than any
+other animal. They have smelt something unusual; and, besides, who
+can tell whether they have not even found their way as far as our
+plateau during the tempest?"
+
+"But then, why did they stop here last night?" asked Altamont.
+
+"Well, that's a question I can't answer, but there is no doubt
+they will continue narrowing their circles, till they reach Fort
+Providence."
+
+"We shall soon see," said Altamont.
+
+"And, meantime, we had best go on," added the Doctor, "and
+keep a sharp look out."
+
+But not a sign of anything living was visible, and after a time they
+returned to the snow-house.
+
+Hatteras and Johnson were informed how matters stood, and it was
+resolved to maintain a vigilant watch. Night came, but nothing
+disturbed its calm splendour--nothing was heard to indicate
+approaching danger.
+
+Next morning at early dawn, Hatteras and his companions, well armed,
+went out to reconnoitre the state of the snow. They found the same
+identical footmarks, but somewhat nearer. Evidently the enemy was
+bent on the siege of Fort Providence.
+
+"But where can the bears be?" said Bell.
+
+"Behind the icebergs watching us," replied the Doctor.
+"Don't let us expose ourselves imprudently."
+
+"What about going hunting, then?" asked Altamont.
+
+"We must put it off for a day or two, I think, and rub out the
+marks again, and see if they are renewed to-morrow."
+
+The Doctor's advice was followed, and they entrenched themselves
+for the present in the fort. The lighthouse was taken down, as it
+was not of actual use meantime, and might help to attract the bears.
+Each took it in turn to keep watch on the upper plateau.
+
+The day passed without a sign of the enemy's existence, and next
+morning, when they hurried eagerly out to examine the snow, judge
+their astonishment to find it wholly untouched!
+
+"Capital!" exclaimed Altamont. "The bears are put off the
+scent; they have no perseverance, and have grown tired waiting for
+us. They are off, and a good riddance. Now let us start for a
+day's hunting."
+
+"Softly, softly," said the Doctor; "I'm not so sure they
+have gone. I think we had better wait one day more. It is evident
+the bears have not been here last night, at least on this side; but
+still--"
+
+"Well, let us go right round the plateau, and see how things
+stand," said the impatient Altamont.
+
+"All right," said Clawbonny. "Come along."
+
+Away they went, but it was impossible to scrutinize carefully a
+track of two miles, and no trace of the enemy was discoverable.
+
+"Now, then, can't we go hunting?" said Altamont.
+
+"Wait till to-morrow," urged the Doctor again.
+
+His friend was very unwilling to delay, but yielded the point at
+last, and returned to the fort.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+As on the preceding night, each man took his hour's watch on the
+upper plateau. When it came to Altamont's turn, and he had gone
+out to relieve Bell, Hatteras called his old companions round him.
+The Doctor left his desk and Johnson his cooking, and hastened to
+their captain's side, supposing he wanted to talk over their
+perilous situation; but Hatteras never gave it a thought.
+
+"My friends," he said, "let us take advantage of the
+American's absence to speak of business. There are things which
+cannot concern him, and with which I do not choose him to meddle."
+
+Johnson and Clawbonny looked at each other, wondering what the
+captain was driving at.
+
+"I wish," he continued, "to talk with you about our plans for
+the future."
+
+"All right! talk away while we are alone," said the Doctor.
+
+"In a month, or six weeks at the outside, the time for making
+distant excursions will come again. Have you thought of what we had
+better undertake in summer?"
+
+"Have you, captain?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Have I? I may say that not an hour of my life passes without
+revolving in my mind my one cherished purpose. I suppose not a man
+among you intends to retrace his steps?"
+
+No one replied, and Hatteras went on to say--
+
+"For my own part, even if I must go alone, I will push on to the
+North Pole. Never were men so near it before, for we are not more
+than 360 miles distant at most, and I will not lose such an
+opportunity without making every attempt to reach it, even though it
+be an impossibility. What are your views, Doctor?"
+
+"Your own, Hatteras."
+
+"And yours, Johnson?"
+
+"Like the Doctor's."
+
+"And yours, Bell?"
+
+"Captain," replied the carpenter, "it is true we have neither
+wives nor children waiting us in England, but, after all, it is
+one's country--one's native land! Have you no thoughts of
+returning home?"
+
+"We can return after we have discovered the Pole quite as well as
+before, and even better. Our difficulties will not increase, for as
+we near the Pole we get away from the point of greatest cold. We
+have fuel and provisions enough. There is nothing to stop us, and we
+should be culpable, in my opinion, if we allowed ourselves to
+abandon the project."
+
+"Very well, captain, I'll go along with you."
+
+"That's right; I never doubted you," said Hatteras. "We
+shall succeed, and England will have all the glory."
+
+"But there is an American among us!" said Johnson.
+
+Hatteras could not repress an impatient exclamation.
+
+"I know it!" he said, in a stern voice.
+
+"We cannot leave him behind," added the Doctor.
+
+"No, we can't," repeated Hatteras, almost mechanically.
+
+"And he will be sure to go too."
+
+"Yes, he will go too; but who will command?"
+
+"You, captain."
+
+"And if you all obey my orders, will the Yankee refuse?"
+
+"I shouldn't think so; but suppose he should, what can be
+done?"
+
+"He and I must fight it out, then."
+
+The three Englishmen looked at Hatteras, but said nothing. Then the
+Doctor asked how they were to go.
+
+"By the coast, as far as possible," was the reply.
+
+"But what if we find open water, as is likely enough?"
+
+"Well, we'll go across it."
+
+"But we have no boat."
+
+Hatteras did not answer, and looked embarrassed.
+
+"Perhaps," suggested Bell, "we might make a ship out of some
+of the planks of the Porpoise."
+
+"Never!" exclaimed Hatteras, vehemently.
+
+"Never!" said Johnson.
+
+The Doctor shook his head. He understood the feeling of the captain.
+
+"Never!" reiterated Hatteras. "A boat made out of an American
+ship would be an American!"
+
+"But, captain----" began Johnson.
+
+The Doctor made a sign to the old boatswain not to press the subject
+further, and resolved in his own mind to reserve the question for
+discussion at a more opportune moment. He managed to turn the
+conversation to other matters, till it abruptly terminated by the
+entrance of Altamont.
+
+This ended the day, and the night passed quietly without the least
+disturbance. The bears had evidently disappeared.
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+
+
+IMPRISONED IN DOCTOR'S HOUSE
+
+
+The first business next day was to arrange for a hunt. It was
+settled that Altamont, Bell, and Hatteras should form the party,
+while Clawbonny should go and explore as far as Isle Johnson, and
+make some hydrographic notes and Johnson should remain behind to
+keep house.
+
+The three hunters soon completed their preparations. They armed
+themselves each with a double barrelled revolver and a rifle, and
+took plenty of powder and shot. Each man also carried in his belt
+his indispensable snow knife and hatchet, and a small supply of
+pemmican in case night should surprise them before their return.
+
+Thus equipped, they could go far, and might count on a good supply
+of game.
+
+At eight o'clock they started, accompanied by Duk, who frisked and
+gambolled with delight. They went up the hill to the east, across
+the cone, and down into the plain below.
+
+The Doctor next took his departure, after agreeing with Johnson on a
+signal of alarm in case of danger.
+
+The old boatswain was left alone, but he had plenty to do. He began
+by unfastening the Greenland dogs, and letting them out for a run
+after their long, wearisome confinement. Then he attended to divers
+housekeeping matters. He had to replenish the stock of combustibles
+and provisions, to arrange the store-houses, to mend several broken
+utensils, to repair the rents in coverlets, and get new shoes ready
+for summer excursions. There was no lack of work, and the old
+sailor's nimble clever fingers could do anything.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+While his hands were busy, his mind was occupied with the
+conversation of the preceding evening. He thought with regret over
+the captain's obstinacy, and yet he felt that there was something
+grand and even heroic in his determination that neither an American
+nor an American ship should first touch the Pole.
+
+The hunters had been gone about an hour when Johnson suddenly heard
+the report of a gun.
+
+"Capital!" he exclaimed. "They have found something, and
+pretty quickly too, for me to hear their guns so distinctly. The
+atmosphere must be very clear."
+
+A second and a third shot followed.
+
+"Bravo!" again exclaimed the boatswain; "they must have fallen
+in luck's way!"
+
+[Illustration: Hatteras could only manage to keep off his pursuers
+by flinging down one article after another--P.120]
+
+But when three more shots came in rapid succession, the old man
+turned pale, and a horrible thought crossed his mind, which made him
+rush out and climb hastily to the top of the cone. He shuddered at
+the sight which met his eyes. The three hunters, followed by Duk,
+were tearing home at full speed, followed by the five huge bears!
+Their six balls had evidently taken no effect, and the terrible
+monsters were close on their heels. Hatteras, who brought up the
+rear, could only manage to keep off his pursuers by flinging down
+one article after another--first his cap, then his hatchet, and,
+finally, his gun. He knew that the inquisitive bears would stop and
+examine every object, sniffing all round it, and this gave him a
+little time, otherwise he could not have escaped, for these animals
+outstrip the fleetest horse, and one monster was so near that
+Hatteras had to brandish his knife vigorously, to ward off a
+tremendous blow of his paw.
+
+At last, though panting and out of breath, the three men reached
+Johnson safely, and slid down the rock with him into the snow-house.
+The bears stopped short on the upper plateau, and Hatteras and his
+companions lost no time in barring and barricading them out.
+
+"Here we are at last!" exclaimed Hatteras; "we can defend
+ourselves better now. It is five against five."
+
+"Four!" said Johnson in a frightened voice.
+
+"How?"
+
+"The Doctor!" replied Johnson, pointing to the empty
+sitting-room.
+
+"Well, he is in Isle Johnson."
+
+"A bad job for him," said Bell.
+
+"But we can't leave him to his fate, in this fashion," said
+Altamont.
+
+"No, let's be off to find him at once," replied Hatteras.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+He opened the door, but soon shut it, narrowly escaping a bear's
+hug.
+
+"They are there!" he exclaimed.
+
+"All?" asked Bell.
+
+"The whole pack."
+
+Altamont rushed to the windows, and began to fill up the deep
+embrasure with blocks of ice, which he broke off the walls of the
+house.
+
+His companions followed his example silently. Not a sound was heard
+but the low, deep growl of Duk.
+
+To tell the simple truth, however, it was not their own danger that
+occupied their thoughts, but their absent friend, the Doctor's. It
+was for him they trembled, not for themselves. Poor Clawbonny, so
+good and devoted as he had been to every member of the little
+colony! This was the first time they had been separated from him.
+Extreme peril, and most likely a frightful death awaited him, for he
+might return unsuspectingly to Fort Providence, and find himself in
+the power of these ferocious animals.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"And yet," said Johnson, "unless I am much mistaken, he must
+be on guard. Your repeated shots cannot but have warned him. He must
+surely be aware that something unusual has happened."
+
+"But suppose he was too far away to hear them," replied
+Altamont, "or has not understood the cause of them? It is ten
+chances to one but he'll come quickly back, never imagining the
+danger. The bears are screened from sight by the crag completely."
+
+"We must get rid of them before he comes," said Hatteras.
+
+"But how?" asked Bell.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+It was difficult to reply to this, for a sortie was out of the
+question. They had taken care to barricade the entrance passage, but
+the bears could easily find a way in if they chose. So it was
+thought advisable to keep a close watch on their movements outside,
+by listening attentively in each room, so as to be able to resist
+all attempts at invasion. They could hear them distinctly prowling
+about, growling and scraping the walls with their enormous paws.
+
+However, some action must be taken speedily, for time was passing.
+Altamont resolved to try a port-hole through which he might fire on
+his assailants. He had soon scooped out a hole in the wall, but his
+gun was hardly pushed through, when it was seized with irresistible
+force, and wrested from his grasp before he could even fire.
+
+"Confound it!" he exclaimed, "we're no match for them."
+
+And he hastened to stop up the breach as fast as possible.
+
+This state of things had lasted upwards of an hour, and there seemed
+no prospect of a termination. The question of a sortie began now to
+be seriously discussed. There was little chance of success, as the
+bears could not be attacked separately, but Hatteras and his
+companions had grown so impatient, and it must be confessed were
+also so much ashamed of being kept in prison by beasts, that they
+would even have dared the risk if the captain had not suddenly
+thought of a new mode of defence.
+
+He took Johnson's furnace-poker, and thrust it into the stove
+while he made an opening in the snow wall, or rather a partial
+opening, for he left a thin sheet of ice on the outer side. As soon
+as the poker was red hot, he said to his comrades who stood eagerly
+watching him, wondering what he was going to do--
+
+"This red-hot bar will keep off the bears when they try to get
+hold of it, and we shall be able easily to fire across it without
+letting them snatch away our guns."
+
+"A good idea," said Bell, posting himself beside Altamont.
+
+Hatteras withdrew the poker, and instantly plunged it in the wall.
+The melting snow made a loud hissing noise, and two bears ran and
+made a snatch at the glowing bar; but they fell back with a terrible
+howl, and at the same moment four shots resounded, one after the
+other.
+
+"Hit!" exclaimed Altamont.
+
+"Hit!" echoed Bell.
+
+"Let us repeat the dose," said Hatteras, carefully stopping up
+the opening meantime.
+
+The poker was again thrust into the fire, and in a few minutes was
+ready for Hatteras to recommence operations.
+
+Altamont and Bell reloaded their guns, and took their places; but
+this time the poker would not pass through.
+
+"Confound the beasts!" exclaimed the impetuous American.
+
+"What's the matter?" asked Johnson.
+
+"What's the matter? Why, those plaguey animals are piling up
+block after block, intending to bury us alive!"
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"Look for yourself; the poker can't get through. I declare it is
+getting absurd now."
+
+It was worse than absurd, it was alarming. Things grew worse. It was
+evident that the bears meant to stifle their prey, for the sagacious
+animals were heaping up huge masses, which would make escape
+impossible.
+
+"It is too bad," said old Johnson, with a mortified look. "One
+might put up with men, but bears!"
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Two hours elapsed without bringing any relief to the prisoners; to
+go out was impossible, and the thick walls excluded all sound.
+Altamont walked impatiently up and down full of exasperation and
+excitement at finding himself worsted for once. Hatteras could think
+of nothing but the Doctor, and of the serious peril which threatened
+him.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Oh, if Mr. Clawbonny were only here!" said Johnson.
+
+"What could he do?" asked Altamont.
+
+"Oh, he'd manage to get us out somehow."
+
+"How, pray?" said the American, crossly.
+
+"If I knew that I should not need him. However, I know what his
+advice just now would be."
+
+"What?"
+
+"To take some food; that can't hurt us. What do you say, Mr.
+Altamont?"
+
+"Oh, let's eat, by all means, if that will please you, though
+we're in a ridiculous, not to say humiliating, plight."
+
+"I'll bet you we'll find a way out after dinner."
+
+No one replied, but they seated themselves round the table.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Johnson, trained in Clawbonny's school, tried to be brave and
+unconcerned about the danger, but he could scarcely manage it. His
+jokes stuck in his throat. Moreover, the whole party began to feel
+uncomfortable. The atmosphere was getting dense, for every opening
+was hermetically sealed. The stoves would hardly draw, and it was
+evident would soon go out altogether for want of oxygen.
+
+Hatteras was the first to see their fresh danger, and he made no
+attempt to hide it from his companions.
+
+"If that is the case," said Altamont, "we must get out at all
+risks."
+
+"Yes," replied Hatteras; "but let us wait till night. We will
+make a hole in the roof, and let in a provision of air, and then one
+of us can fire out of it on the bears."
+
+"It is the only thing we can do, I suppose," said Altamont.
+
+So it was agreed; but waiting was hard work, and Altamont could not
+refrain from giving vent to his impatience by thundering
+maledictions on the bears, and abusing the ill fate which had placed
+them in such an awkward and humbling predicament. "It was beasts
+versus men," he said, "and certainly the men cut a pretty
+figure."
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+
+THE MINE.
+
+
+Night drew on, and the lamp in the sitting-room already began to
+burn dim for want of oxygen.
+
+At eight o'clock the final arrangements were completed, and all
+that remained to do was to make an opening in the roof.
+
+They had been working away at this for some minutes, and Bell was
+showing himself quite an adept in the business, when Johnson, who
+had been keeping watch in the sleeping room, came hurriedly in to
+his companions, pulling such a long face, that the captain asked
+immediately what was the matter?
+
+"Nothing exactly," said the old sailor, "and yet--"
+
+"Come, out with it!" exclaimed Altamont.
+
+"Hush! don't you hear a peculiar noise?"
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Here, on this side, on the wall of the room."
+
+Bell stopped working, and listened attentively like the rest.
+Johnson was right; a noise there certainly was on the side wall, as
+if some one were cutting the ice.
+
+"Don't you hear it?" repeated Johnson.
+
+"Hear it? Yes, plain enough," replied Altamont.
+
+"Is it the bears?" asked Bell.
+
+"Most assuredly."
+
+"Well; they have changed their tactics," said old Johnson,
+"and given up the idea of suffocating us."
+
+"Or may be they suppose we are suffocated by now," suggested the
+American, getting furious at his invisible enemies.
+
+"They are going to attack us," said Bell.
+
+"Well, what of it?" returned Hatteras.
+
+"We shall have a hand-to-hand struggle, that's all."
+
+"And so much the better," added Altamont; "that's far more
+to my taste; I have had enough of invisible foes--let me see my
+antagonist, and then I can fight him."
+
+"Ay," said Johnson; "but not with guns. They would be useless
+here."
+
+"With knife and hatchet then," returned the American.
+
+The noise increased, and it was evident that the point of attack was
+the angle of the wall formed by its junction with the cliff.
+
+"They are hardly six feet off now," said the boatswain.
+
+"Right, Johnson!" replied Altamont; "but we have time enough
+to be ready for them."
+
+And seizing a hatchet, he placed himself in fighting attitude,
+planting his right foot firmly forward and throwing himself back.
+
+Hatteras and the others followed his example, and Johnson took care
+to load a gun in case of necessity.
+
+Every minute the sound came nearer, till at last only a thin coating
+separated them from their assailants.
+
+Presently this gave way with a loud crack, and a huge dark mass
+rolled over into the room.
+
+Altamont had already swung his hatchet to strike, when he was
+arrested by a well-known voice, exclaiming--
+
+"For Heaven's sake, stop!"
+
+"The Doctor! the Doctor!" cried Johnson.
+
+And the Doctor it actually was who had tumbled in among them in such
+undignified fashion.
+
+"How do ye do, good friends?" he said, picking himself smartly
+up.
+
+His companions stood stupefied for a moment, but joy soon loosened
+their tongues, and each rushed eagerly forward to welcome his old
+comrade with a loving embrace. Hatteras was for once fairly overcome
+with emotion, and positively hugged him like a child.
+
+"And is it really you, Mr. Clawbonny?" said Johnson.
+
+"Myself and nobody else, my old fellow. I assure you I have been
+far more uneasy about you than you could have been about me."
+
+"But how did you know we had been attacked by a troop of bears?"
+asked Altamont. "What we were most afraid of was that you would
+come quickly back to Fort Providence, never dreaming of danger."
+
+"Oh, I saw it all. Your repeated shots gave me the alarm. When you
+commenced firing I was beside the wreck of the Porpoise, but I
+climbed up a hummock, and discovered five bears close on your heels.
+Oh, how anxious I was for you! But when I saw you disappear down the
+cliff, while the bears stood hesitating on the edge, as if uncertain
+what to do, I felt sure that you had managed to get safely inside
+the house and barricade it. I crept cautiously nearer, sometimes
+going on all-fours, sometimes slipping between great blocks of ice,
+till I came at last quite close to our fort, and then I found the
+bears working away like beavers. They were prowling about the snow,
+and dragging enormous blocks of ice towards the house, piling them
+up like a wall, evidently intending to bury you alive. It is a lucky
+thing they did not take it into their heads to dash down the blocks
+from the summit of the cone, for you must have been crushed
+inevitably."
+
+"But what danger you were in, Mr. Clawbonny," said Bell. "Any
+moment they might have turned round and attacked you."
+
+"They never thought of it even. Johnson's Greenland dogs came in
+sight several times, but they did not take the trouble to go after
+them. No, they imagined themselves sure of a more savoury supper!"
+
+"Thanks for the compliment!" said Altamont, laughing.
+
+"Oh, there is nothing to be proud of. When I saw what the bears
+were up to, I determined to get back to you by some means or other.
+I waited till night, but as soon as it got dark I glided noiselessly
+along towards the powder-magazine. I had my reasons for choosing
+that point from which to work my way hither, and I speedily
+commenced operations with my snow-knife. A famous tool it is. For
+three mortal hours I have been hacking and heaving away, but here I
+am at last tired enough and starving, but still safe here."
+
+"To share our fate!" said Altamont.
+
+"No, to save you all; but, for any sake, give me a biscuit and a
+bit of meat, for I feel sinking for want of food."
+
+A substantial meal was soon before him, but the vivacious little man
+could talk all the while he was eating, and was quite ready to
+answer any questions.
+
+"Did you say to save us?" asked Bell.
+
+"Most assuredly!" was the reply.
+
+"Well, certainly, if you found your way in, we can find our way
+out by the same road."
+
+"A likely story, and leave the field clear for the whole pack to
+come in and find out our stores. Pretty havoc they would make!"
+
+"No, we must stay here," said Hatteras.
+
+"Of course we must," replied Clawbonny, "but we'll get rid
+of the bears for all that."
+
+"I told you so," said Johnson, rubbing his hands. "I knew
+nothing was hopeless if Mr. Clawbonny was here; he has always some
+expedient in his wise head."
+
+"My poor head is very empty, I fear, but by dint of rummaging
+perhaps I----"
+
+"Doctor," interrupted Altamont, "I suppose there is no fear of
+the bears getting in by the passage you have made?"
+
+"No, I took care to stop up the opening thoroughly, and now we can
+reach the powder-magazine without letting them see us."
+
+"All right; and now will you let us have your plan of getting rid
+of these comical assailants?"
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"My plan is quite simple, and part of the work is done already."
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"You shall see. But I am forgetting that I brought a companion
+with me."
+
+"What do you say?" said Johnson.
+
+"I have a companion to introduce to you," replied the Doctor,
+going out again into the passage, and bringing back a dead fox,
+newly killed.
+
+"I shot it this morning," he continued, "and never did fox
+come more opportunely."
+
+"What on earth do you mean?" asked Altamont.
+
+"I mean to blow up the bears en masse with 100 lbs of powder."
+
+"But where is the powder?" exclaimed his friend.
+
+"In the magazine. This passage will lead to it. I made it
+purposely."
+
+"And where is the mine to be?" inquired Altamont.
+
+"At the furthest point from the house and stores."
+
+"And how will you manage to entice the bears there, all to one
+spot?"
+
+"I'll undertake that business; but we have talked enough, let us
+set to work. We have a hundred feet more to add to our passage
+to-night, and that is no easy matter, but as there are five of us,
+we can take turns at it. Bell will begin, and we will lie down and
+sleep meantime."
+
+"Well, really," said Johnson, "the more I think of it, the
+more feasible seems the Doctor's plan."
+
+"It is a sure one, anyway," said Clawbonny.
+
+"So sure that I can feel the bear's fur already on my shoulder.
+Well, come, let's begin then."
+
+Away he went into the gloomy passage, followed by Bell, and in a few
+moments they had reached the powder-magazine, and stood among the
+well-arranged barrels. The Doctor pointed out to his companion the
+exact spot where he began excavating, and then left him to his task,
+at which he laboured diligently for about an hour, when Altamont
+came to relieve him. All the snow he had dug out was taken to the
+kitchen and melted, to prevent its taking up room.
+
+The captain succeeded Altamont, and was followed by Johnson. In ten
+hours--that is to say, about eight in the morning--the gallery was
+entirely open.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+With the first streak of day, the Doctor was up to reconnoitre the
+position of the enemy. The patient animals were still occupying
+their old position, prowling up and down and growling. The house had
+already almost disappeared beneath the piled-up blocks of ice, but
+even while he gazed a council of war seemed being held, which
+evidently resulted in the determination to alter the plan of action,
+for suddenly all the five bears began vigorously to pull down these
+same heaped-up blocks.
+
+"What are they about?" asked Hatteras, who was standing beside
+him.
+
+"Well, they look to me to be bent on demolishing their own work,
+and getting right down to us as fast as possible; but wait a bit, my
+gentlemen, we'll demolish you first. However, we have not a minute
+to lose."
+
+Hastening away to the mine, he had the chamber where the powder was
+to be lodged enlarged the whole breadth and height of the sloping
+rock against which the wall leaned, till the upper part was about a
+foot thick, and had to be propped up to prevent its falling in. A
+strong stake was fixed firmly on the granite foundation, on the top
+of which the dead fox was fastened. A rope was attached to the lower
+part of the stake, sufficiently long to reach the powder stores.
+
+"This is the bait," he said, pointing to the dead fox, "and
+here is the mine," he added, rolling in a keg of powder containing
+about 100 lbs.
+
+"But, Doctor," said Hatteras, "won't that blow us up too, as
+well as the bears?"
+
+"No, we shall be too far from the scene of explosion. Besides, our
+house is solid, and we can soon repair the walls even if they should
+get a bit shaken."
+
+"And how do you propose to manage?" asked Altamont.
+
+"See! By hauling in this rope we lower the post which props up the
+roof, and make it give way, and bring up the dead fox to light, and
+I think you will agree with me that the bears are so famished with
+their long fasting, that they won't lose much time in rushing
+towards their unexpected meal. Well, just at that very moment, I
+shall set fire to the mine, and blow up both the guests and the
+meal."
+
+"Capital! Capital!" shouted Johnson, who had been listening with
+intense interest.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Hatteras said nothing, for he had such absolute confidence in his
+friend that he wanted no further explanation. But Altamont must know
+the why and wherefore of everything.
+
+"But Doctor," he said, "can you reckon on your match so
+exactly that you can be quite sure it will fire the mine at the
+right moment?"
+
+"I don't need to reckon at all; that's a difficulty easily got
+over."
+
+"Then you have a match a hundred feet long?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You are simply going to lay a train of powder."
+
+"No, that might miss fire."
+
+"Well, there is no way then but for one of us to devote his life
+to the others, and go and light the powder himself."
+
+"I'm ready," said Johnson, eagerly, "ready and willing."
+
+"Quite useless my brave fellow," replied the Doctor, holding out
+his hand. "All our lives are precious, and they will be all
+spared, thank God!"
+
+"Well, I give it up!" said the American. "I'll make no more
+guesses."
+
+"I should like to know what is the good of learning physics,"
+said the Doctor, smiling, "if they can't help a man at a pinch
+like this. Haven't we an electric battery, and long enough lines
+attached to it to serve our purpose? We can fire our mine whenever
+we please in an instant, and without the slightest danger."
+
+"Hurrah!" exclaimed Johnson.
+
+"Hurrah!" echoed the others, without heeding whether the enemy
+heard them or not.
+
+The Doctor's idea was immediately carried out, and the connecting
+lines uncoiled and laid down from the house to the chamber of the
+mine, one end of each remaining attached to the electric pile, and
+the other inserted into the keg of powder.
+
+By nine o'clock everything was ready. It was high time, for the
+bears were furiously engaged in the work of demolition. Johnson was
+stationed in the powder-magazine, in charge of the cord which held
+the bait.
+
+"Now," said Clawbonny to his companions, "load your guns, in
+case our assailants are not killed. Stand beside Johnson, and the
+moment the explosion is over rush out."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"All right," said Altamont.
+
+"And now we have done all we can to help ourselves. So may Heaven
+help us!"
+
+Hatteras, Altamont, and Bell repaired to the powder-magazine, while
+the Doctor remained alone beside the pile.
+
+Soon he heard Johnson's voice in the distance calling out
+"Ready."
+
+"All right," was the reply.
+
+Johnson pulled his rope vigorously, and then rushed to the loop-hole
+to see the effect. The thin shell of ice had given way, and the body
+of the fox lay among the ruins. The bears were somewhat scared at
+first, but the next minute had eagerly rushed to seize the booty.
+
+"Fire!" called out Johnson, and at once the electric spark was
+sent along the lines right into the keg of powder. A formidable
+explosion ensued; the house was shaken as if by an earthquake, and
+the walls cracked asunder. Hatteras, Altamont, and Bell hurried out
+with the guns, but they might spare their shot, for four of the
+bears lay dead, and the fifth, half roasted, though alive, was
+scampering away in terror as fast as his legs could carry him.
+
+"Hurrah! Three cheers for Clawbonny," they shouted and
+overwhelmed the Doctor with plaudits and thanks.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+
+AN ARCTIC SPRING.
+
+
+The prisoners were free, and their joy found vent in the noisiest
+demonstrations. They employed the rest of the day in repairing the
+house, which had suffered greatly by the explosion. They cleared
+away the blocks piled up by the animals, and filled up the rents in
+the walls, working with might and main, enlivened by the many songs
+of old Johnson.
+
+Next morning there was a singular rise in the temperature, the
+thermometer going up to 15 deg. above zero.
+
+This comparative heat lasted several days. In sheltered spots the
+glass rose as high as 31 deg., and symptoms of a thaw appeared.
+
+The ice began to crack here and there, and jets of salt water were
+thrown up, like fountains in an English park. A few days later, the
+rain fell in torrents.
+
+Thick vapour rose from the snow, giving promise of the speedy
+disappearance of these immense masses. The sun's pale disc became
+deeper in colour, and remained longer above the horizon. The night
+was scarcely longer than three hours.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Other tokens of spring's approach were manifest of equal
+significance, the birds were returning in flocks, and the air
+resounded with their deafening cries. Hares were seen on the shores
+of the bay, and mice in such abundance that their burrows completely
+honeycombed the ground.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The Doctor drew the attention of his companions to the fact, that
+almost all these animals were beginning to lose their white winter
+dress, and would soon put on summer attire, while nature was already
+providing mosses, and poppies, and saxifragas, and short grass for
+their sustenance. A new world lay beneath that melting snow.
+
+But with these inoffensive animals came back their natural enemies.
+Foxes and wolves arrived in search of their prey, and dismal howls
+broke the silence of the short night.
+
+Arctic wolves closely resemble dogs, and their barking would deceive
+the most practised ears; even the canine race themselves have been
+deceived by it. Indeed, it seems as if the wily animals employed
+this ruse to attract the dogs, and make them their prey. Several
+navigators have mentioned the fact, and the Doctor's own
+experience confirmed it. Johnson took care not to let his
+Greenlanders loose; of Duk there was little fear; nothing could take
+him in.
+
+For about a fortnight hunting was the principal occupation. There
+was an abundant supply of fresh meat to be had. They shot
+partridges, ptarmigans, and snow ortolans, which are delicious
+eating. The hunters never went far from Fort Providence, for game
+was so plentiful that it seemed waiting their guns, and the whole
+bay presented an animated appearance.
+
+The thaw, meanwhile, was making rapid progress. The thermometer
+stood steadily at 32 deg. above zero, and the water ran down the
+mountain sides in cataracts, and dashed in torrents through the
+ravines.
+
+The Doctor lost no time in clearing about an acre of ground, in
+which he sowed the seeds of anti-scorbutic plants. He just had the
+pleasure of seeing tiny little green leaves begin to sprout, when
+the cold returned in full force.
+
+In a single night, the thermometer lost nearly 40 deg.; it went down to
+8 deg. below zero. Everything was frozen--birds, quadrupeds, amphibia
+disappeared as if by magic; seal-holes reclosed, and the ice once
+more became hard as granite.
+
+The change was most striking; it occurred on the 18th of May, during
+the night. The Doctor was rather disappointed at having all his work
+to do again, but Hatteras bore the grievance most unphilosophically,
+as it interfered with all his plans of speedy departure.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Do you think we shall have a long spell of this weather, Mr.
+Clawbonny?" asked Johnson.
+
+"No, my friend, I don't; it is a last blow from the cold. You
+see these are his dominions, and he won't be driven out without
+making some resistance."
+
+"He can defend himself pretty well," said Bell, rubbing his face.
+
+"Yes; but I ought to have waited, and not have wasted my seed like
+an ignoramus; and all the more as I could, if necessary, have made
+them sprout by the kitchen stoves."
+
+"But do you mean to say," asked Altamont, "that you might have
+anticipated the sudden change?"
+
+"Of course, and without being a wizard. I ought to have put my
+seed under the protection of Saint Paucratius and the other two
+saints, whose fete days fall this month."
+
+"Absurd! Pray tell me what they have to do with it? What influence
+can they possibly have on the temperature?"
+
+"An immense one, if we are to believe horticulturists, who call
+them the patron saints of the frost."
+
+"And for what reason?"
+
+"Because generally there is a periodical frost in the month of
+May, and it is coldest from the 11th to the 13th. That is the
+fact."
+
+"And how is it explained?"
+
+"In two ways. Some say that a larger number of asteroids come
+between the earth and the sun at this time of year, and others that
+the mere melting of the snow necessarily absorbs a large amount of
+heat, and accounts for the low temperature. Both theories are
+plausible enough, but the fact remains whichever we accept, and I
+ought to have remembered it."
+
+The Doctor was right, for the cold lasted till the end of the month,
+and put an end to all their hunting expeditions. The old monotonous
+life in-doors recommenced, and was unmarked by any incident except a
+serious illness which suddenly attacked Bell. This was violent
+quinsy, but, under the Doctor's skilful treatment, it was soon
+cured. Ice was the only remedy he employed, administered in small
+pieces, and in twenty-four hours Bell was himself again.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+During this compulsory leisure, Clawbonny determined to have a talk
+with the captain on an important subject--the building of a sloop
+out of the planks of the Porpoise.
+
+The Doctor hardly knew how to begin, as Hatteras had declared so
+vehemently that he would never consent to use a morsel of American
+wood; yet it was high time he were brought to reason, as June was at
+hand, the only season for distant expeditions, and they could not
+start without a ship.
+
+He thought over it a long while, and at last drew the captain aside,
+and said in the kindest, gentlest way--
+
+"Hatteras, do you believe I'm your friend?"
+
+"Most certainly I do," replied the captain, earnestly; "my
+best, indeed my only friend."
+
+"And if I give you a piece of advice without your asking, will you
+consider my motive is perfectly disinterested?"
+
+"Yes, for I know you have never been actuated by self-interest.
+But what are you driving at?"
+
+"Wait, Hatteras, I have one thing more to ask. Do you look on me
+as a true-hearted Englishman like yourself, anxious for his
+country's glory?"
+
+Hatteras looked surprised, but simply said--
+
+"I do."
+
+"You desire to reach the North Pole," the Doctor went on; "and
+I understand and share your ambition, but to achieve your object you
+must employ the right means."
+
+"Well, and have I not sacrificed everything for it?"
+
+"No, Hatteras, you have not sacrificed your personal antipathies.
+Even at this very moment I know you are in the mood to refuse the
+indispensable conditions of reaching the pole."
+
+"Ah! it is the boat you want to talk about, and that man----"
+
+"Hatteras, let us discuss the question calmly, and examine the
+case on all sides. The coast on which we find ourselves at present
+may terminate abruptly; we have no proof that it stretches right
+away to the pole; indeed, if your present information prove correct,
+we ought to come to an open sea during the summer months. Well,
+supposing we reach this Arctic Ocean and find it free from ice and
+easy to navigate, what shall we do if we have no ship?"
+
+Hatteras made no reply.
+
+"Tell me, now, would you like to find yourself only a few miles
+from the pole and not be able to get to it?"
+
+Hatteras still said nothing, but buried his head in his hands.
+
+"Besides," continued the Doctor, "look at the question in its
+moral aspect. Here is an Englishman who sacrifices his fortune, and
+even his life, to win fresh glory for his country, but because the
+boat which bears him across an unknown ocean, or touches the new
+shore, happens to be made of the planks of an American vessel--a
+cast-away wreck of no use to anyone--will that lessen the honour of
+the discovery? If you yourself had found the hull of some wrecked
+vessel lying deserted on the shore, would you have hesitated to make
+use of it; and must not a sloop built by four Englishmen and manned
+by four Englishmen be English from keel to gunwale?"
+
+Hatteras was still silent.
+
+"No," continued Clawbonny; "the real truth is, it is not the
+sloop you care about: it is the man."
+
+"Yes, Doctor, yes," replied the captain. "It is this American
+I detest; I hate him with a thorough English hatred. Fate has thrown
+him in my path."
+
+"To save you!"
+
+"To ruin me. He seems to defy me, and speaks as if he were lord
+and master. He thinks he has my destiny in his hands, and knows all
+my projects. Didn't we see the man in his true colours when we
+were giving names to the different coasts? Has he ever avowed his
+object in coming so far north? You will never get out of my head
+that this man is not the leader of some expedition sent out by the
+American government."
+
+"Well, Hatteras, suppose it is so, does it follow that this
+expedition is to search for the North Pole? May it not be to find
+the North-West Passage? But anyway, Altamont is in complete
+ignorance of our object, for neither Johnson, nor Bell, nor myself,
+have ever breathed a word to him about it, and I am sure you have
+not."
+
+"Well, let him always remain so."
+
+"He must be told in the end, for we can't leave him here
+alone."
+
+"Why not? Can't he stay here in Fort Providence?"
+
+"He would never consent to that, Hatteras; and, moreover, to leave
+a man in that way, and not know whether we might find him safe when
+we came back, would be worse than imprudent: it would be inhuman.
+Altamont will come with us; he must come. But we need not disclose
+our projects; let us tell him nothing, but simply build a sloop for
+the ostensible purpose of making a survey of the coast."
+
+Hatteras could not bring himself to consent, but said--
+
+"And suppose the man won't allow his ship to be cut up?"
+
+"In that case, you must take the law in your own hands, and build
+a vessel in spite of him."
+
+"I wish to goodness he would refuse, then!"
+
+"He must be asked before he can refuse. I'll undertake the
+asking," said Clawbonny.
+
+He kept his word, for that very same night, at supper, he managed to
+turn the conversation towards the subject of making excursions
+during summer for hydrographical purposes.
+
+"You will join us, I suppose, Altamont," he said.
+
+"Of course," replied the American. "We must know how far New
+America extends."
+
+Hatteras looked fixedly at his rival, but said nothing.
+
+"And for that purpose," continued Altamont, "we had better
+build a little ship out of the remains of the Porpoise. It is the
+best possible use we can make of her."
+
+"You hear, Bell," said the Doctor, eagerly. "We'll all set
+to work to-morrow morning."
+
+[Illustration: The carpenter began his task immediately.--P.154]
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+
+THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE.
+
+
+Next morning, Altamont Bell and the Doctor repaired to the Porpoise.
+There was no lack of wood, for, shattered as the old
+"three-master" had been by the icebergs, she could still supply
+the principal parts of a new ship, and the carpenter began his task
+immediately.
+
+In the end of May, the temperature again rose, and spring returned
+for good and all. Rain fell copiously, and before long the melting
+snow was running down every little slope in falls and cascades.
+
+Hatteras could not contain his delight at these signs of a general
+thaw among the ice-fields, for an open sea would bring him liberty.
+At last he might hope to ascertain for himself whether his
+predecessors were correct in their assertions about a polar basin.
+
+This was a frequent topic of thought and conversation with him, and
+one evening when he was going over all the old familiar arguments in
+support of his theory, Altamont took up the subject, and declared
+his opinion that the polar basin extended west as well as east. But
+it was impossible for the American and Englishman, to talk long
+about anything without coming to words, so intensely national were
+both. Dr. Kane was the first bone of contention on this occasion,
+for the jealous Englishman was unwilling to grant his rival the
+glory of being a discoverer, alleging his belief that though the
+brave adventurer had gone far north, it was by mere chance he had
+made a discovery.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Chance!" interrupted Altamont, hotly. "Do you mean to assert
+that it is not to Kane's energy and science that we owe his great
+discovery?"
+
+"I mean to say that Dr. Kane's name is not worth mentioning in a
+country made illustrious by such names as Parry, and Franklin, and
+Ross, and Belcher, and Penny; in a country where the seas opened the
+North-West Passage to an Englishman--McClure!"
+
+"McClure!" exclaimed the American. "Well, if ever chance
+favoured anyone it was that McClure. Do you pretend to deny it?"
+
+"I do," said Hatteras, becoming quite excited. "It was his
+courage and perseverance in remaining four whole winters among the
+ice."
+
+"I believe that, don't I?" said Altamont, sneeringly. "He
+was caught among the bergs and could not get away; but didn't he
+after all abandon his ship, the Investigator, and try to get back
+home? Besides, putting the man aside, what is the value of his
+discovery? I maintain that the North-West Passage is still
+undiscovered, for not a single ship to this day has ever sailed from
+Behring's Straits to Baffin's Bay!"
+
+The fact was indisputable, but Hatteras started to his feet, and
+said--
+
+"I will not permit the honour of an English captain to be attacked
+in my presence any longer!"
+
+"You will not permit!" echoed Altamont, also springing erect.
+"But these are facts, and it is out of your power to destroy
+them!"
+
+"Sir!" shouted Hatteras, pale with rage.
+
+"My friends!" interposed the Doctor; "pray be calm. This is a
+scientific point we are discussing."
+
+But Hatteras was deaf to reason now, and said angrily--
+
+"I'll tell you the facts, sir."
+
+"And I'll tell you," retorted the irate American.
+
+"Gentlemen," said Clawbonny, in a firm tone; "allow me to
+speak, for I know the facts of the case as well as and perhaps
+better than you, and I can state them impartially."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Yes, yes!" cried Bell and Johnson, who had been anxiously
+watching the strife.
+
+"Well, go on," said Altamont, finding himself in the minority,
+while Hatteras simply made a sign of acquiescence, and resumed his
+seat.
+
+The Doctor brought a chart and spread it out on the table, that his
+auditors might follow his narration intelligibly, and be able to
+judge the merits of McClure for themselves.
+
+"It was in 1848," he said, "that two vessels, the Herald and
+the Plover, were sent out in search of Franklin, but their efforts
+proving ineffectual, two others were despatched to assist them--
+the Investigator, in command of McClure, and the Enterprise, in
+command of Captain Collison. The Investigator arrived first in
+Behring's Straits, and without waiting for her consort, set out
+with the declared purpose to find Franklin or the North-West
+Passage. The gallant young officer hoped to push north as far as
+Melville Sound, but just at the extremity of the Strait, he was
+stopped by an insurmountable barrier of ice, and forced to winter
+there. During the long, dreary months, however, he and his officers
+undertook a journey over the ice-field, to make sure of its
+communicating with Melville Sound."
+
+"Yes, but he did not get through," said Altamont.
+
+"Stop a bit," replied Clawbonny; "as soon as a thaw set in,
+McClure renewed his attempt to bring his ship into Melville Sound,
+and had succeeded in getting within twenty miles, when contrary
+winds set in, and dragged her south with irresistible violence. This
+decided the captain to alter his course. He determined to go in a
+westerly direction; but after a fearful struggle with icebergs, he
+stuck fast in the first of the series of straits
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+which end in Baffin's Bay, and was obliged to winter in Mercy Bay.
+His provisions would only hold out eighteen months longer, but he
+would not give up. He set out on a sledge, and reached Melville
+Island, hoping to fall in with some ship or other, but all he found
+in Winter Harbour was a cairn, which contained a document, stating
+that Captain Austin's lieutenant, McClintock, had been there the
+preceding year. McClure replaced this document by another, which
+stated his intention of returning to England by the North-West
+Passage he had discovered, by Lancaster Sound and Baffin's Bay,
+and that in the event of his not being heard of, he might be looked
+for north or west of Melville Island. Then he went back to Mercy Bay
+with undaunted courage, to pass a third winter. By the beginning of
+March his stock of provisions was so reduced in consequence of the
+utter scarcity of game through the severity of the season, that
+McClure resolved to send half his men to England, either by
+Baffin's Bay or by McKenzie River and Hudson's Bay. The other
+half would manage to work the vessel to Europe. He kept all his best
+sailors, and selected for departure only those to whom a fourth
+winter would have been fatal. Everything was arranged for their
+leaving, and the day fixed, when McClure, who was out walking with
+Lieutenant Craswell, observed a man running towards them, flinging
+up his arms and gesticulating frantically, and on getting nearer
+recognized him as Lieutenant Prim, officer on board the Herald, one
+of the ships he had parted with in Behring's Straits two years
+before.
+
+Captain Kellett, the Commander, had reached Winter Harbour, and
+finding McClure's document in the cairn, had dispatched his
+lieutenant in search of him. McClure accompanied him back, and
+arranged with the captain to send him his batch of invalids.
+Lieutenant Craswell took charge of these and conveyed them safely to
+Winter Harbour. Leaving them there he went across the ice four
+hundred and seventy miles, and arrived at Isle Beechy, where, a few
+days afterwards, he took passage with twelve men on board the
+Phoenix, and reached London safely on the 7th of October, 1853,
+having traversed the whole extent between Behring's Straits and
+Cape Farewell."
+
+"Well, if arriving on one side and leaving at the other is not
+going through, I don't know what is!" said Hatteras.
+
+"Yes, but he went four hundred and seventy miles over
+ice-fields," objected Altamont.
+
+"What of that?"
+
+"Everything; that is the gist of the whole argument. It was not
+the Investigator that went through."
+
+"No," replied Clawbonny, "for, at the close of the fourth
+winter, McClure was obliged to leave her among the ice."
+
+"Well, in maritime expeditions the vessel has to get through, and
+not the man; and if ever the Northwest Passage is practicable, it
+will be for ships and not sledges. If a ship cannot go, a sloop
+must."
+
+"A sloop!" exclaimed Hatteras, discovering a hidden meaning in
+the words.
+
+"Altamont," said the Doctor, "your distinction is simply
+puerile, and in that respect we all consider that you are in the
+wrong."
+
+"You may easily do that," returned the American. "It is four
+against one, but that will not prevent me from holding my own
+opinion."
+
+"Keep it and welcome, but keep it to yourself, if you please, for
+the future," exclaimed Hatteras.
+
+"And pray what right have you to speak to me like this, sir?"
+shouted Altamont, in a fury.
+
+"My right as captain," returned Hatteras, equally angry.
+
+"Am I to submit to your orders, then?"
+
+"Most assuredly, and woe to you if----"
+
+[Illustration: The Doctor did not allow him to proceed, for he
+really feared the two antagonists might come to blows.--P.162]
+
+The Doctor did not allow him to proceed, for he really feared the
+two antagonists might come to blows. Bell and Johnson seconded his
+endeavours to make peace, and, after a few conciliatory words,
+Altamont turned on his heel, and walked carelessly away, whistling
+"Yankee Doodle." Hatteras went outside, and paced up and down
+with rapid strides. In about an hour he came back, and retired to
+bed without saying another word.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+
+ARCTIC ARCADIA
+
+
+On the 29th of May, for the first time, the sun never set. His
+glowing disc just touched the boundary line of the horizon, and rose
+again immediately. The period was now entered when the day lasts
+twenty-four hours.
+
+Next morning there was a magnificent halo; the monarch of day
+appeared surrounded by a luminous circle, radiant with all the
+prismatic colours. This phenomenon never lost its charm, for the
+Doctor, however frequently it occurred, and he always noted
+carefully down all particulars respecting it.
+
+Before long the feathered tribes began to return, filling the air
+with their discordant cries. Flocks of bustards and Canadian geese
+from Florida or Arkansas came flying north with marvellous rapidity,
+bringing spring beneath their wings. The Doctor shot several, and
+among them one or two cranes and a solitary stork.
+
+The snow was now fast melting, and the ice-fields were covered with
+"slush." All round the bay large pools had formed, between which
+the soil appeared as if some product of spring.
+
+The Doctor recommenced his sowing, for he had plenty of seed; but he
+was surprised to find sorrel growing already between the half-dried
+stones, and even pale sickly heaths, trying to show their delicate
+pink blossoms.
+
+At last it began to be really hot weather. On the 15th of June, the
+thermometer stood at 57 deg. above zero. The Doctor scarcely believed
+his eyes, but it was a positive fact, and it was soon confirmed by
+the changed appearance of the country.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+An excursion was made to Isle Johnson, but it turned out to be a
+barren little islet of no importance whatever, though it gave the
+old boatswain infinite pleasure to know that those sea girt rocks
+bore his name.
+
+There was some danger of both house and stores melting, but happily
+this high temperature proved exceptional, the thermometer seldom
+averaging much above freezing point.
+
+By the middle of June, the sloop had made good progress, and already
+presented a shapely appearance. As Bell and Johnson took the work of
+construction entirely on themselves, the others went hunting, and
+succeeded in killing several deer, in spite of its being difficult
+game to approach. Altamont adopted the Indian practice of crawling
+on all fours, and adjusting his gun and arms so as to simulate horns
+and deceive the timid animal, till he could get near enough to take
+good aim.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Their principal object of pursuit, however, was the musk-ox, which
+Parry had met with in such numbers in Melville Island; but not a
+solitary specimen was to be seen anywhere about Victoria Bay, and a
+distant excursion was, therefore, resolved upon, which would serve
+the double purpose of hunting and surveying the eastern coast.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The three hunters, accompanied by Duk, set out on Monday, the 17th
+of June, at six in the morning, each man armed with a
+double-barrelled gun, a hatchet and snow-knife, and provisions for
+several days.
+
+It was a fine bright morning, and by ten o'clock they had gone
+twelve miles; but not a living thing had crossed their path, and the
+hunt threatened to turn out a mere excursion.
+
+However, they went on in hope, after a good breakfast and
+half-an-hour's rest.
+
+The ground was getting gradually lower, and presented a peculiar
+appearance from the snow, which lay here and there in ridges
+unmelted. At a distance it looked like the sea when a strong wind is
+lashing up the waves, and cresting them with a white foam.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Before long they reached a sort of glen, at the bottom of which was
+a winding river. It was almost completely thawed, and already the
+banks were clothed with a species of vegetation, as if the sun had
+done his best to fertilise the soil.
+
+"I tell you what," said the Doctor, "a few enterprising
+colonists might make a fine settlement here. With a little industry
+and perseverance wonders might be done in this country. Ah! if I am
+not much mistaken, it has some four-footed inhabitants already.
+Those frisky little fellows know the best spots to choose."
+
+"Hares! I declare. That's jolly!" said Altamont, loading his
+gun.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Stop!" cried the Doctor; "stop, you furious hunter. Let the
+poor little things alone; they are not thinking of running away.
+Look, they are actually coming to us, I do believe!"
+
+He was right, for presently three or four young hares, gambolling
+away among the fresh moss and tiny heaths, came running about their
+legs so fearlessly and trustfully, that even Altamont was disarmed.
+They
+
+[Illustration: It was a strange and touching spectacle to see the
+pretty creatures--they flew on Clawbonny's shoulders,
+etc.--P.169]
+
+rubbed against the Doctor's knees, and let him stroke them till
+the kind-hearted man could not help saying to Altamont--
+
+"Why give shot to those who come for caresses? The death of these
+little beasts could do us no good."
+
+"You say what's true, Clawbonny. Let them live!" replied
+Hatteras.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"And these ptarmigans too, I suppose, and these long-legged
+plovers," added Altamont, as a whole covey of birds flew down
+among the hunters, never suspecting their danger. Duk could not tell
+what to make of it, and stood stupefied.
+
+It was a strange and touching spectacle to see the pretty creatures;
+they flew on Clawbonny's shoulders, and lay down at his feet as if
+inviting friendly caresses, and doing their utmost to welcome the
+strangers. The whole glen echoed with their joyous cries as they
+darted to and fro from all parts. The good Doctor seemed some mighty
+enchanter.
+
+The hunters had continued their course along the banks of the river,
+when a sudden bend in the valley revealed a herd of deer, eight or
+ten in number, peacefully browsing on some lichens that lay
+half-buried in the snow. They were charming creatures, so graceful
+and gentle, male and female, both adorned with noble antlers,
+wide-spreading and deeply-notched. Their skin had already lost its
+winter whiteness, and began to assume the brown tint of summer.
+Strange to say, they appeared not a whit more afraid than the birds
+or hares.
+
+The three men were now right in the centre of the herd, but not one
+made the least movement to run away. This time the worthy Doctor had
+far more difficulty in restraining Altamont's impatience, for the
+mere sight of such magnificent animals roused his hunting instincts,
+and he became quite excited; while Hatteras, on the contrary, seemed
+really touched to see the splendid creatures rubbing their heads so
+affectionately and trustfully against the good Clawbonny, the friend
+of every living thing.
+
+"But, I say," exclaimed Altamont, "didn't we come out
+expressly to hunt?"
+
+"To hunt the musk-ox, and nothing else," replied Clawbonny.
+"Besides, we shouldn't know what to do with this game, even if
+we killed it; we have provisions enough. Let us for once enjoy the
+sight of men and animals in perfect amity."
+
+"It proves no human beings have been here before," said Hatteras.
+
+"True, and that proves something more, these animals are not of
+American origin."
+
+"How do you make that out?" said Altamont.
+
+"Why, if they had been born in North America they would have known
+how to treat that mammiferous biped called man, and would have fled
+at the first glimpse of us. No, they are from the north, most likely
+from the untrodden wilds of Asia, so Altamont, you have no right to
+claim them as fellow-countrymen."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Oh! a hunter doesn't examine his game so closely as all that.
+Everything is grist that comes to his mill."
+
+"All right. Calm yourself, my brave Nimrod! For my own part, I
+would rather never fire another shot than make one of these
+beautiful creatures afraid of me. See, even Duk fraternizes with
+them. Believe me, it is well to be kind where we can. Kindness is
+power."
+
+"Well, well, so be it," said Altamont, not at all understanding
+such scruples. "But I should like to see what you would do if you
+had no weapon but kindness among a pack of bears or wolves! You
+wouldn't make much of it."
+
+"I make no pretensions to charm wild beasts. I don't believe
+much in Orpheus and his enchantments. Besides, bears and wolves
+would not come to us like these hares, and partridges, and deer."
+
+"Why not? They have never seen human beings either."
+
+"No but they are savage by nature," said Clawbonny, "and
+ferocity, like wickedness, engenders suspicion. This is true of men
+as well as animals."
+
+They spent the whole day in the glen, which the Doctor christened
+"Arctic Arcadia," and when evening came they lay down to rest in
+the hollow of a rock, which seemed as if expressly prepared for
+their accommodation.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+
+ALTAMONT'S REVENGE.
+
+
+Next morning, as the fine weather still continued, the hunters
+determined to have another search for the musk ox. It was only fair
+to give Altamont a chance, with the distinct understanding that he
+should have the right of firing, however fascinating the game they
+might meet. Besides, the flesh of the musk ox, though a little too
+highly impregnated with the smell, is savoury food, and the hunters
+would gladly carry back a few pounds of it to Fort Providence.
+
+During the first part of the day, nothing occurred worth mentioning,
+but they noticed a considerable change in the aspect of the country,
+and appearances seemed to indicate that they were approaching a
+hilly region. This New America was evidently either a continent or
+an island of considerable extent.
+
+Duk was running far ahead of his party when he stopped suddenly
+short, and began sniffing the ground as if he had caught scent of
+game. Next minute he rushed forward again with extreme rapidity, and
+was speedily out of sight. But loud distinct barking convinced the
+hunters that the faithful fellow had at last discovered the desired
+object.
+
+They hurried onwards, and after an hour and a half's quick
+walking, found him standing in front of two formidable looking
+animals, and barking furiously. The Doctor recognized them at once
+as belonging to the musk ox, or Ovibos genus, as naturalists call
+it, by the very wide horns touching each other at their base, by the
+absence of muzzle, by the narrow square chanfrin resembling that of
+a sheep, and by the very short tail. Their hair was long and thickly
+matted, and mixed with fine brown, silky wool.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+These singular-looking quadrupeds were not the least afraid of Duk,
+though extremely surprised; but at the first glimpse of the hunters
+they took flight, and it was no easy task to go after them, for half
+an hour's swift running brought them no nearer, and made the whole
+party so out of breath, that they were forced to come to a halt.
+
+"Confound the beasts!" said Altamont.
+
+"Yes, Altamont, I'll make them over to you," replied
+Clawbonny; "they are true Americans, and they don't appear to
+have a very favourable idea of their fellow countrymen."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"That proves our hunting prowess," rejoined Altamont.
+
+Meantime the oxen finding themselves no longer pursued, had stopped
+short. Further pursuit was evidently useless. If they were to be
+captured at all they must be surrounded, and the plateau which they
+first happened to have reached, was very favourable for the purpose.
+Leaving Duk to worry them, they went down by the neighbouring
+ravines; and got to the one end of the plateau, where Altamont and
+the Doctor hid themselves behind projecting rocks, while Hatteras
+went on to the other end, intending to startle the animals by his
+sudden appearance, and drive them back towards his companions.
+
+"I suppose you have no objection this time to bestow a few bullets
+on these gentry?" said Altamont.
+
+"Oh, no, it is 'a fair field now and no favour,'" returned
+Clawbonny.
+
+The oxen had begun to shake themselves impatiently at Duk, trying to
+kick him off, when Hatteras started up right in front of them,
+shouting and chasing them back. This was the signal for Altamont and
+the Doctor to rush forward and fire, but at the sight of two
+assailants, the terrified animals wheeled round and attacked
+Hatteras. He met their onset with a firm, steady foot, and fired
+straight at their heads. But both his balls were powerless, and only
+served still further to madden the enraged beasts. They rushed upon
+the unfortunate man like furies, and threw him on the ground in an
+instant.
+
+"He is a dead man!" exclaimed the Doctor, in despairing accents.
+
+A tremendous struggle was going on in Altamont's breast at the
+sight of his prostrate foe, and though his first impulse was to
+hasten to his help, he stopped short, battling with himself and his
+prejudices. But his hesitation scarcely lasted half a second, his
+better self conquered, and exclaiming,
+
+"No, it would be cowardly!" he rushed forward with Clawbonny.
+
+Hatteras full well understood how his rival felt, but would rather
+have died than have begged his intervention. However, he had hardly
+time to think about it, before Altamont was at his side.
+
+He could not have held out much longer, for it was impossible to
+ward off the blows of horns and hoofs of two such powerful
+antagonists, and in a few minutes more he must have been torn to
+pieces. But suddenly two shots resounded, and Hatteras felt the
+balls graze his head.
+
+[Ilustration: Dealt him such a tremendous blow on the head with his
+hatchet, that the skull was completely split open.--P.177]
+
+"Courage!" shouted Altamont, flinging away his discharged
+weapon, and throwing himself right in front of the raging animals.
+One of them, shot to the heart, fell dead as he reached the spot,
+while the other dashed madly on Hatteras, and was about to gore the
+unfortunate captain with his horns, when Altamont plunged his snow
+knife far into the beast's wide open jaws with one hand, with the
+other dealt him such a tremendous blow on the head with his hatchet,
+that the skull was completely split open.
+
+It was done so quickly that it seemed like a flash of lightning, and
+all was over. The second ox lay dead, and Clawbonny shouted
+"Hurrah! hurrah!" Hatteras was saved.
+
+He owed his life to the man he hated the most. What a storm of
+conflicting passions this must have roused in his soul! But where
+was the emotion he could not master?
+
+However, his action was prompt, whatever his feeling might be.
+Without a moment's hesitancy, he went up to his rival, and said in
+a grave voice--
+
+"Altamont, you have saved my life!"
+
+"You saved mine," replied the American.
+
+There was a moment's silence, and then Altamont added--
+
+"We're quits, Hatteras."
+
+"No, Altamont," said the captain; "when the Doctor dragged you
+out of your icy tomb, I did not know who you were; but you saved me
+at the peril of your own life, knowing quite well who I was."
+
+"Why, you are a fellow-creature at any rate, and whatever faults
+an American may have, he is no coward."
+
+"No, indeed," said the Doctor. "He is a man, every inch as
+much as yourself, Hatteras."
+
+"And like me, he shall have part in the glory that awaits us."
+
+"The glory of reaching the North Pole?" asked Altamont.
+
+"Yes," replied Hatteras, proudly.
+
+"I guessed right, then," said Altamont.
+
+"And you have actually dared to conceive such a project? Oh! it is
+grand; I tell you it is sublime even to think of it?"
+
+"But tell me," said Hatteras in a hurried manner; "you were
+not bound for the Pole then yourself?"
+
+Altamont hesitated.
+
+"Come, speak out, man," urged the Doctor.
+
+"Well, to tell the truth, I was not, and the truth is better than
+self-love. No, I had no such grand purpose in view. I was trying to
+clear the North-West Passage, and that was all."
+
+"Altamont," said Hatteras, holding out his hand; "be our
+companion to glory, come with us and find the North Pole."
+
+The two men clasped hands in a warm, hearty grasp, and the bond of
+friendship between them was sealed.
+
+When they turned to look for the Doctor they found him in tears.
+
+"Ah! friends," he said, wiping his eyes; "you have made me so
+happy, it is almost more than I can bear' You have sacrificed this
+miserable nationality for the sake of the common cause. You have
+said, 'What does it matter if only the Pole is discovered, whether
+it is by an Englishman or an American?' Why should we brag of
+being American or English, when we can boast that we are men?"
+
+The good little man was beside himself with joy He hugged the
+reconciled enemies to his bosom, and cemented their friendship by
+his own affection to both.
+
+At last he grew calm after at least a twentieth embrace, and said--
+
+"It is time I went to work now. Since I am no hunter, I must use
+my talents in another direction"
+
+And he began to cut up the oxen so skilfully, that he seemed like a
+surgeon making a delicate autopsy.
+
+His two companions looked on smiling. In a few minutes the adroit
+operator had cut off more than a hundred pounds of flesh. This he
+divided into three parts. Each man took one, and they retraced their
+steps to Fort Providence.
+
+At ten o'clock they arrived at Doctor's House, where Johnson and
+Bell had a good supper prepared for them.
+
+But before sitting down to enjoy it, the Doctor exclaimed in a
+jubilant tone, and pointing to his two companions--
+
+"My dear old Johnson, I took out an American and an Englishman
+with me, didn't I?"
+
+"Yes, Mr. Clawbonny."
+
+"Well, I bring back two brothers."
+
+This was joyous news to the sailors, and they shook hands warmly
+with Altamont; while the Doctor recounted all that had passed, and
+how the American captain had saved the English captain's life.
+That night no five happier men could have been found than those that
+lay sleeping in the little snow house.
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+
+FINAL PREPARATIONS
+
+
+Next day the weather changed, the cold returned. Snow, and rain, and
+tempest came in quick succession for several days.
+
+Bell had completed the sloop, and done his work well, for the little
+vessel was admirably adapted for the purpose contemplated, being
+high at the sides and partly decked so as to be able to stand a
+heavy sea, and yet light enough to be drawn on the sledge without
+overburdening the dogs.
+
+At last a change of the greatest importance took place. The ice
+began to tremble in the centre of the bay, and the highest masses
+became loosened at their base ready to form icebergs, and drift away
+before the first gale; but Hatteras would not wait for the
+ice-fields to break up before he started. Since the journey must be
+made on land, he did not care whether the sea was open or not; and
+the day of departure was fixed for the 25th of June--Johnson and
+Bell undertaking the necessary repairs of the sledge.
+
+On the 20th, finding there was space enough between the broken ice
+to allow the sloop to get through, it was determined to take her a
+trial trip to Cape Washington.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The sea was not quite open but it would have been impossible to go
+across on foot.
+
+This short sail of six hours sufficiently tested the powers of the
+sloop, and proved her excellent qualities. In coming back they
+witnessed a curious sight; it was the chase of a seal by a gigantic
+bear. Mr. Bruin was too busily engaged to notice the vessel, or he
+would have pursued; he was intently watching beside a seal hole with
+the patience of a true hunter, or rather angler, for he was
+certainly fishing just then. He watched in absolute silence, without
+stirring or giving the least sign of life.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+But all of a sudden there was a slight disturbance on the surface of
+the water in the hole, which announced the coming up of the
+amphibious animal to breathe. Instantly the bear lay flat on his
+belly with his two paws stretched round the opening.
+
+[Illustration: The poor seal struggled desperately, but could not
+free himself from the iron grasp of his enemy.--P.184]
+
+Next minute up came the seal, but his head no sooner appeared above
+the water than the bear's paws closed about him like a vice, and
+dragged him right out. The poor seal struggled desperately, but
+could not free himself from the iron grasp of his enemy, who hugged
+him closer and closer till suffocation was complete. Then he carried
+him off to his den as if the weight were nothing, leaping lightly
+from pack to pack till he gained terra firma safely.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+On the 22nd of June, Hatteras began to load the sledge. They put in
+200 lbs. of salt meat, three cases of vegetables and preserved meat,
+besides lime-juice, and flour, and medicines. They also took 200
+lbs. of powder and a stock of fire-arms. Including the sloop and the
+Halkett-boat, there was about 1500 lbs. weight, a heavy
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+load for four dogs, and all the more as they would have to drag it
+every day, instead of only four days successively, like the dogs
+employed by the Esquimaux, who always keep a relay for their
+sledges. However, the distance to the Pole was not 150 miles at the
+outside, and they did not intend to go more than twelve miles a day,
+as they could do it comfortably in a month. Even if land failed
+them, they could always fall back on the sloop, and finish the
+journey without fatigue to men or dogs.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+All the party were in excellent health, though they had lost flesh a
+little; but, by attending to the Doctor's wise counsels, they had
+weathered the winter without being attacked by any of the maladies
+incident to the climate.
+
+Now, they were almost at their journey's end, and not one doubted
+of success, for a common bond of sympathy bound fast the five men,
+and made them strong to persevere.
+
+On Sunday, the 23rd, all was ready, and it was resolved to devote
+the entire day to rest.
+
+The dwellers on Fort Providence could not see the last day dawn
+without some emotion. It cost them a pang to leave the snow-hut
+which had served them in such good stead, and this hospitable shore
+where they had passed the winter. Take it altogether, they had spent
+very happy hours there, and the Doctor made a touching reference to
+the subject as they sat round the table at the evening meal, and did
+not forget to thank God for his manifest protection.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+They retired early to rest, for they needed to be up betimes. So
+passed the last night in Fort Providence.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+
+MARCH TO THE NORTH
+
+
+Next day at early dawn, Hatteras gave the signal for departure. The
+well-fed and well-rested dogs were harnessed to the sledge. They had
+been having a good time of it all the winter, and might be expected
+to do good service during the summer.
+
+It was six in the morning when the expedition started. After
+following the windings of the bay and going past Cape Washington,
+they struck into the direct route for the north, and by seven
+o'clock had lost sight of the lighthouse and Fort Providence.
+
+During the first two days they made twenty miles in twelve hours,
+devoting the remainder of the time to rest and meals. The tent was
+quite sufficient protection during sleep.
+
+The temperature began to rise. In many places the snow melted
+entirely away, and great patches of water appeared; here and there
+complete ponds, which a little stretch of imagination might easily
+convert into lakes. The travellers were often up to their knees, but
+they only laughed over it; and, indeed, the Doctor was rather glad
+of such unexpected baths.
+
+"But for all that," he said, "the water has no business to wet
+us here. It is an element which has no right to this country, except
+in a solid or vaporous state. Ice or vapour is all very well, but
+water--never!"
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Hunting was not forgotten during the march, for fresh meat was a
+necessity. Altamont and Bell kept their guns loaded, and shot
+ptarmigans, guillemots, geese, and a few young hares; but, by
+degrees, birds and animals had been changing from trustfulness to
+fear, and had become so shy and difficult to approach, that very
+often, but for Duk, the hunters would have wasted their powder.
+
+Hatteras advised them not to go more than a mile away, as there was
+not a day, nor even an hour, to lose, for three months of fine
+weather was the utmost they
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+could count upon. Besides, the sledge was often coming to difficult
+places, when each man was needed to lend a helping hand.
+
+On the third day they came to a lake, several acres in extent, and
+still entirely frozen over. The sun's rays had little access to
+it, owing to its situation, and the ice was so strong that it must
+have dated from some remote winter. It was strong enough to bear
+both the travellers and their sledge, and was covered with dry snow.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+From this point the country became gradually lower, from which the
+Doctor concluded that it did not extend to the Pole, but that most
+probably this New America was an island.
+
+Up to this time the expedition had been attended with no fatigue.
+The travellers had only suffered from the intense glare of the sun
+on the snow, which threatened them with snow-blindness. At another
+time of the year they might have avoided this by walking during the
+night, but at present there was no night at all. Happily the snow
+was beginning to melt, and the brilliancy would diminish as the
+process of dissolution advanced.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+On the 28th of June the thermometer rose to 45 deg., and the rain fell
+in torrents. Hatteras and his companions, however, marched stoically
+on, and even hailed the downpour with delight, knowing that it would
+hasten the disappearance of the snow.
+
+As they went along, the Doctor often picked up stones, both round
+ones and flat pebbles, as if worn away by the tide. He thought from
+this they must be near the Polar Basin, and yet far as the eye could
+reach was one interminable plain.
+
+There was not a trace of houses, or huts, or cairns visible. It was
+evident that the Greenlanders had not pushed their way so far north,
+and yet the famished tribes would have found their account in
+coming, for the country abounded in game. Bears were frequently
+seen, and numerous herds of musk-oxen and deer.
+
+[Illustration: Bell killed a fox and Altamont a musk-ox.--P.192]
+
+On the 29th, Bell killed a fox and Altamont a musk-ox. These
+supplies of fresh food were very acceptable, and even the Doctor
+surveyed, with considerable satisfaction, the haunches of meat they
+managed to procure from time to time.
+
+"Don't let us stint ourselves," he used to say on these
+occasions; "food is no unimportant matter in expeditions like
+ours."
+
+"Especially," said Johnson, "when a meal depends on a lucky
+shot."
+
+"You're right, Johnson; a man does not think so much about
+dinner when he knows the soup-pot is simmering by the
+kitchen-fire."
+
+On the 30th, they came to a district which seemed
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+to have been upturned by some volcanic convulsion, so covered was it
+with cones and sharp lofty peaks.
+
+A strong breeze from the south-east was blowing, which soon
+increased to a hurricane, sweeping over the rocks covered with snow
+and the huge masses, of ice, which took the forms of icebergs and
+hummocks, though on dry land.
+
+The tempest was followed by damp, warm weather, which caused a
+regular thaw.
+
+On all sides nothing could be heard but the noise of cracking ice
+and falling avalanches.
+
+The travellers had to be very careful in avoiding hills, and even in
+speaking aloud, for the slightest agitation in the air might have
+caused a catastrophe. Indeed, the suddenness is the peculiar feature
+in Arctic
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+avalanches, distinguishing them from those of Switzerland and
+Norway. Often the dislodgment of a block of ice is instantaneous,
+and not even a cannon-ball or thunderbolt could be more rapid in its
+descent. The loosening, the fall, and the crash happen almost
+simultaneously.
+
+Happily, however, no accident befel any of the party, and three days
+afterwards they came to smooth, level ground again.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+But here a new phenomenon met their gaze--a phenomenon which was
+long a subject of patient inquiry among the learned of both
+hemispheres. They came to a long chain of low hills which seemed to
+extend for miles, and were all covered on the eastern side with
+bright red snow.
+
+It is easy to imagine the surprise and half-terrified exclamations
+of the little company at the sight of this long red curtain; but the
+Doctor hastened to reassure them, or rather to instruct them, as to
+the nature of this peculiar snow. He told them that this same red
+substance had been found in Switzerland, in the heart of the Alps,
+and that the colour proceeded solely from the presence of certain
+corpuscles, about the nature of which for a long time chemists could
+not agree. They could not decide whether these corpuscles were of
+animal or vegetable origin, but at last it was settled that they
+belonged to the family of fungi, being a sort of microscopic
+champignon of the species Uredo.
+
+Turning the snow over with his iron-tipped staff, the Doctor found
+that the colouring matter measured nine feet deep. He pointed this
+out to his companions, that they might have some idea of the
+enormous number of these tiny mushrooms in a layer extending so many
+miles.
+
+This phenomenon was none the less strange for being explained, for
+red is a colour seldom seen in nature over any considerable area.
+The reflection of the sun's rays upon it produced the most
+peculiar effect, lighting up men, and animals, and rocks with a
+fiery glow, as if proceeding from some flame within. When the snow
+melted it looked like blood, as the red particles do not decompose.
+It seemed to the travellers as if rivulets of blood were running
+among their feet.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The Doctor filled several bottles with this precious substance to
+examine at leisure, as he had only had a glimpse of the Crimson
+Cliffs in Baffin's Bay.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+This Field of Blood, as he called it, took three hours to get over,
+and then the country resumed its usual aspect.
+
+[Illustration: At Bell's suggestion torches were
+contrived.--P.199]
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+
+FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW.
+
+
+On the fourth of July there was such an exceedingly dense fog, that
+it was very difficult to keep the straight course for the north. No
+misadventure, however, befel the party during the darkness, except
+the loss of Bell's snow-shoes. At Bell's suggestion, which fired
+the Doctor's inventive genius, torches were contrived, made of tow
+steeped in spirits-of-wine and fastened on the end of a stick, and
+these served somewhat to help them on, though they made but small
+progress; for, on the sixth, after the fog had cleared off, the
+Doctor took their bearings, and found that they had only been
+marching at the rate of eight miles a day.
+
+Determined to make up for lost time, they rose next morning very
+early and started off, Bell and Altamont as usual going ahead of the
+rest and acting as scouts. Johnson and the others kept beside the
+sledge, and were soon nearly two miles behind the guides; but the
+weather was so dry and clear that all their movements could be
+distinctly observed.
+
+"What now?" said Clawbonny, as he saw them make a sudden halt,
+and stoop down as if examining the ground.
+
+"I was just wondering what they are about, myself," replied old
+Johnson.
+
+"Perhaps they have come on the tracks of animals," suggested
+Hatteras.
+
+"No," said Clawbonny, "it can't be that."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because Duk would bark."
+
+"Well, it is quite evident they are examining some sort of
+marks."
+
+"Let's get on, then," said Hatteras; and, urging forward the
+dogs, they rejoined their companions in about twenty minutes, and
+shared their surprise at finding unmistakable fresh footprints of
+human beings in the snow, as plain as if only made the preceding day.
+
+"They are Esquimaux footprints," said Hatteras.
+
+"Do you think so?" asked Altamont.
+
+"There is no doubt of it."
+
+"But what do you make of this, then?" returned Altamont,
+pointing to another footmark repeated in
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+several places. "Do you believe for a minute that was made by an
+Esquimaux?"
+
+It was incontestably the print of a European boot--nails, sole, and
+heel clearly stamped in the snow. There was no room for doubt, and
+Hatteras exclaimed in amazement--
+
+"Europeans here!"
+
+"Evidently," said Johnson.
+
+"And yet it is so improbable that we must take a second look
+before pronouncing an opinion," said Clawbonny.
+
+But the longer he looked, the more apparent became the fact.
+Hatteras was chagrined beyond measure. A European here, so near the
+Pole!
+
+The footprints extended for about a quarter of a mile, and then
+diverged to the west. Should the travellers follow them further?
+
+"No," said Hatteras, "let us go on."
+
+He was interrupted by an exclamation from the Doctor, who had just
+picked up an object that gave still more convincing proof of
+European origin. It was part of a pocket spy-glass!
+
+"Well, if we still had any doubts about the footmarks, this
+settles the case at once, at any rate," said Clawbonny.
+
+"Forward!" exclaimed Hatteras so energetically, that
+instinctively each one obeyed, and the march was resumed forthwith.
+
+The day wore away, but no further sign of the presence of suspected
+rivals was discovered, and they prepared to encamp for the night.
+
+The tent was pitched in a ravine for shelter, as the sky was dark
+and threatening, and a violent north wind was blowing.
+
+"I'm afraid we'll have a bad night," said Johnson.
+
+"A pretty noisy one, I expect," replied the Doctor, "but not
+cold. We had better take every precaution, and fasten down our tent
+with good big stones."
+
+"You are right, Mr. Clawbonny. If the hurricane swept away our
+tent, I don't know where we should find it again."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The tent held fast, but sleep was impossible, for the tempest was
+let loose and raged with tremendous violence.
+
+"It seems to me," said the Doctor, during a brief lull in the
+deafening roar," as if I could hear the sound of collisions
+between icebergs and ice-fields. If we were near the sea, I could
+really believe there was a general break-up in the ice."
+
+"I can't explain the noises any other way," said Johnson.
+
+"Can we have reached the coast, I wonder?" asked Hatteras.
+
+"It is not impossible," replied Clawbonny. "Listen! Do you
+hear that crash? That is certainly the sound of icebergs falling. We
+cannot be very far from the ocean."
+
+"Well, if it turn out to be so, I shall push right on over the
+ice-fields."
+
+"Oh, they'll be all broken up after such a storm as this. We
+shall see what to-morrow, brings; but all I can say is, if any poor
+fellows are wandering about in a night like this, I pity them.
+
+The storm lasted for ten hours, and the weary travellers anxiously
+watched for the morning. About daybreak its fury seemed to have
+spent itself, and Hatteras, accompanied by Bell and Altamont,
+ventured to leave the tent. They climbed a hill about three hundred
+feet high, which commanded a wide view. But what a metamorphosed
+region met their gaze! All the ice had completely vanished, the
+storm had chased away the winter, and stripped the soil everywhere
+of its snow covering.
+
+[Illustration: Three hours afterwards they arrived at the coast, and
+shouted simultaneously, "The sea! the sea!"--P.206]
+
+But Hatteras scarcely bestowed a glance on surrounding objects; his
+eager gaze was bent on the northern horizon, which appeared shrouded
+in black mist.
+
+"That may very likely be caused by the ocean," suggested
+Clawbonny.
+
+"You are right. The sea must be there," was the reply.
+
+"That tint is what we call the blink of open water," said
+Johnson.
+
+"Come on, then, to the sledge at once, and let us get to this
+unknown ocean," exclaimed Hatteras.
+
+Their few preparations were soon made, and the march resumed. Three
+hours afterwards they arrived at the coast, and shouted
+simultaneously, "The sea! the sea!"
+
+"Ay, and open sea!" added Hatteras.
+
+And so it was. The storm had opened wide the Polar Basin, and the
+loosened packs were drifting in all directions. The icebergs had
+weighed anchor, and were sailing out into the open sea.
+
+This new ocean stretched far away out of sight, and not a single
+island or continent was visible.
+
+On the east and west the coast formed two capes or headlands, which
+sloped gently down to the sea. In the centre, a projecting rock
+formed a small natural bay, sheltered on three sides, into which a
+wide river fell, bearing in its bosom the melted snows of winter.
+
+After a careful survey of the coast, Hatteras determined to launch
+the sloop that very day, and to unpack the sledge, and get
+everything on board. The tent was soon put up, and a comfortable
+repast prepared. This important business despatched, work commenced;
+and all hands were so expeditious and willing, that by five
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+o'clock nothing more remained to be done. The sloop lay rocking
+gracefully in the little bay, and all the cargo was on board except
+the tent, and what was required for the night's encampment.
+
+The sight of the sloop suggested to Clawbonny the propriety of
+giving Altamont's name to the little bay. His proposition to that
+effect met with unanimous approval, and the port was forthwith
+dignified by the title of Altamont Harbour.
+
+According to the Doctor's calculations the travellers were now
+only 9 deg. distant from the Pole. They had gone over two hundred miles
+from Victoria Bay to Altamont Harbour, and were in latitude 87 deg.
+5' and longitude 118 deg. 35'.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+
+THE OPEN SEA.
+
+
+Next morning by eight o'clock all the remaining effects were on
+board, and the preparations for departure completed. But before
+starting the Doctor thought he would like to take a last look at the
+country and see if any further traces of the presence of strangers
+could be discovered, for the mysterious footmarks they had met with
+were never out of his thoughts. He climbed to the top of a height
+which commanded a view of the whole southern horizon, and took out
+his pocket telescope. But what was his astonishment, to find he
+could see nothing through it, not even neighbouring objects. He
+rubbed his eyes and looked again, but with no better result. Then he
+began to examine the telescope, the object glass was gone!
+
+The object glass! This explained the whole mystery, foot-prints and
+all; and with a shout of surprise he hurried down the hill to impart
+his discovery to the wondering companions, who came running towards
+him, startled by his loud exclamation, and full of anxiety at his
+precipitate descent.
+
+"Well, what is the matter now?" said Johnson.
+
+The Doctor could hardly speak, he was so out of breath. At last he
+managed to gasp out--
+
+"The tracks, footmarks, strangers."
+
+"What?" said Hatteras, "strangers here?"
+
+"No, no, the object glass; the object glass out of my telescope."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+And he held out his spy-glass for them to look at.
+
+"Ah! I see," said Altamont; "it is wanting."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But then the footmarks?"
+
+"They were ours, friends, just ours," exclaimed the Doctor.
+"We had lost ourselves in the fog, and been wandering in a
+circle."
+
+"But the boot-marks," objected Hatteras.
+
+"Bell's. He walked about a whole day after he had lost his snow
+shoes."
+
+"So I did," said Bell.
+
+The mistake was so evident, that they all laughed heartily, except
+Hatteras, though no one was more glad than he at the discovery.
+
+A quarter of an hour afterwards the little sloop sailed out of
+Altamont Harbour, and commenced her voyage of discovery. The wind
+was favourable, but there was little of it, and the weather was
+positively warm.
+
+The sloop was none the worse for the sledge journey. She was in
+first-rate trim, and easily managed. Johnson steered, the Doctor,
+Bell, and the American leaned back against the cargo, and Hatteras
+stood at the prow, his fixed, eager gaze bent steadily on that
+mysterious point towards which he felt drawn with irresistible
+power, like the magnetic needle to the Pole. He wished to be the
+first to descry any shore that might come in sight, and he had every
+right to the honour.
+
+The water of this Polar Sea presented some peculiar features worth
+mentioning. In colour it was a faint ultramarine blue, and possessed
+such wonderful transparency that one seemed to gaze down into
+fathomless depths. These depths were lighted up, no doubt, by some
+electrical phenomenon, and so many varieties of living creatures
+were visible that the vessel seemed to be sailing over a vast
+aquarium.
+
+Innumerable flocks of birds were flying over the surface of this
+marvellous ocean, darkening the sky like thick heavy storm-clouds.
+Water-fowl of every description were among them, from the albatross
+to the penguin, and all of gigantic proportions. Their cries were
+absolutely deafening, and some of them had such
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+immense, wide-spreading wings, that they covered the sloop
+completely as they flew over. The Doctor thought himself a good
+naturalist, but he found his science greatly at fault, for many a
+species here was wholly unknown to any ornithological society.
+
+[Illustration: And the Doctor leaning over the side of the vessel,
+could see the whales and the dolphins, and all the rest of the
+monsters of the deep.--P.214]
+
+The good little man was equally nonplussed when he looked at the
+water, for he saw the most wonderful medusae, some so large that
+they looked like little islands floating about among Brobdignagian
+sea-weeds. And below the surface, what a spectacle met the eye!
+Myriads of fish of every species; young manati at play with each
+other; narwhals with their one strong weapon of defence, like the
+horn of a unicorn, chasing the timid seals; whales of every tribe,
+spouting out columns of water and mucilage, and filling the air with
+a peculiar whizzing noise; dolphins, seals, and walruses; sea-dogs
+and sea-horses, sea-bears and sea-elephants, quietly browsing on
+submarine pastures; and the Doctor could gaze at them all as easily
+and clearly as if they were in glass tanks in the Zoological Gardens.
+
+There was a strange supernatural purity about the atmosphere. It
+seemed charged to overflowing with oxygen, and had a marvellous
+power of exhilaration, producing an almost intoxicating effect on
+the brain.
+
+Towards evening, Hatteras and his companions lost sight of the
+coast. Night came on, though the sun remained just above the
+horizon; but it had the same influence on animated nature as in
+temperate zones. Birds, fish, and all the cetacea disappeared and
+perfect silence prevailed.
+
+Since the departure from Altamont Harbour, the sloop had made one
+degree further north. The next day brought no signs of land; there
+was not even a speck on the horizon. The wind was still favourable,
+and the sea pretty calm. The birds and fishes returned as numerously
+as on the preceding day, and the Doctor leaning over the side of the
+vessel, could see the whales and the dolphins, and all the rest of
+the monsters of the deep, gradually coming up from the clear depths
+below. On the surface, far as the eye could reach, nothing was
+visible except a solitary iceberg here and there, and a few
+scattered floes.
+
+Indeed, but little ice was met with anywhere. The sloop was ten
+degrees above the point of greatest cold, and consequently in the
+same temperature as Baffin's Bay and Disko. It was therefore not
+astonishing that the sea should be open in these summer months.
+
+This is a fact of great practical value, for if ever the whalers can
+penetrate north as far as the Polar basin, they may be sure of an
+immediate cargo, as this part of the ocean seems the general
+reservoir of whales and seals, and every marine species.
+
+The day wore on, but still nothing appeared on the horizon. Hatteras
+never left the prow of the ship, but stood, glass in hand, eagerly
+gazing into the distance with anxious, questioning eyes, and seeking
+to discover, in the colour of the water, the shape of the waves, and
+the breath of the wind, indications of approaching land.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+
+GETTING NEAR THE POLE.
+
+
+Hour after hour passed away, and still Hatteras persevered in his
+weary watch, though his hopes appeared doomed to disappointment.
+
+At length, about six in the evening, a dim, hazy, shapeless sort of
+mist seemed to rise far away between sea and sky. It was not a
+cloud, for it was constantly vanishing, and then reappearing next
+minute.
+
+Hatteras was the first to notice this peculiar phenomenon; but after
+an hour's scrutiny through his telescope, he could make nothing of
+it.
+
+All at once, however, some sure indication met his eye, and
+stretching out his arm to the horizon, he shouted, in a clear
+ringing voice---
+
+"Land! land!"
+
+His words produced an electrical effect on his companions, and every
+man rushed to his side.
+
+"I see it, I see it," said Clawbonny.
+
+"Yes, yes, so do I!" exclaimed Johnson.
+
+"It is a cloud," said Altamont.
+
+"Land! land!" repeated Hatteras, in tones of absolute conviction.
+
+Even while he spoke the appearance vanished, and when it returned
+again the Doctor fancied he caught a gleam of light about the smoke
+for an instant.
+
+[Illustration: "It is a volcano!" he exclaimed.--P.217]
+
+"It is a volcano!" he exclaimed.
+
+"A volcano?" repeated Altamont.
+
+"Undoubtedly."
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+"In so high a latitude?"
+
+"Why not? Is not Iceland a volcanic island--indeed, almost made
+of volcanoes, one might say?"
+
+"Well, has not our famous countryman, James Ross, affirmed the
+existence of two active volcanoes, the Erebus and the Terror, on the
+Southern Continent, in longitude 170 deg. and latitude 78 deg.? Why, then,
+should not volcanoes be found near the North Pole?"
+
+"It is possible, certainly," replied Altamont.
+
+"Ah, now I see it distinctly," exclaimed the Doctor." It is a
+volcano!"
+
+"Let us make right for it then," said Hatteras.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+It was impossible longer to doubt the proximity of the coast. In
+twenty-four hours, probably, the bold navigators might hope to set
+foot on its untrodden soil. But strange as it was, now that they
+were so near the goal of their voyage, no one showed the joy which
+might have been expected. Each man sat silent, absorbed in his own
+thoughts, wondering what sort of place this Pole must be. The birds
+seemed to shun it, for though it was evening, they were all flying
+towards the south with outspread wings. Was it, then, so
+inhospitable, that not so much as a sea-gull or a ptarmigan could
+find a shelter? The fish, too, even the large cetacea, were
+hastening away through the transparent waters. What
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+could cause this feeling either of repulsion or terror?
+
+At last sleep overcame the tired men, and one after another dropped
+off, leaving Hatteras to keep watch.
+
+He took the helm, and tried his best not to close his eyes, for he
+grudged losing precious time; but the slow motion of the vessel
+rocked him into a state of such irresistible somnolence that, in
+spite of himself, he was soon, like his companions, locked fast in
+deep slumber. He began to dream, and imagination brought back all
+the scenes of his past life. He dreamt of his ship, the Forward, and
+of the traitors that had burnt it. Again he felt all the agonies of
+disappointment and failure, and forgot his actual situation. Then
+the scene changed, and he saw himself at the Pole unfurling the
+Union Jack!
+
+While memory and fancy were thus busied, an enormous cloud of an
+olive tinge had begun to darken sea and sky. A hurricane was at
+hand. The first blast of the tempest roused the captain and his
+companions, and they were on their feet in an instant, ready to meet
+it. The sea had risen tremendously, and the ship was tossing
+violently up and down on the billows. Hatteras took the helm again,
+and kept a firm hold of it, while Johnson and Bell baled out the
+water which was constantly dashing over the ship.
+
+It was a difficult matter to preserve the right course, for the
+thick fog made it impossible to see more than a few yards off.
+
+This sudden tempest might well seem to such excited men, a stern
+prohibition against further approach to the Pole; but it needed but
+a glance at their resolute faces to know that they would neither
+yield to winds nor waves, but go right on to the end.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+For a whole day the struggle lasted, death threatening them each
+moment; but about six in the evening, just as the fury of the waves
+seemed at its highest pitch, there came a sudden calm. The wind was
+stilled as if miraculously, and the sea became smooth as glass.
+
+Then came a most extraordinary inexplicable phenomenon.
+
+The fog, without dispersing, became strangely luminous, and the
+sloop sailed along in a zone of electric light. Mast, sail, and
+rigging appeared pencilled in black against the phosphorescent sky
+with wondrous distinctness. The men were bathed in light, and their
+faces shone with a fiery glow.
+
+"The volcano!" exclaimed Hatteras.
+
+"Is it possible?" said Bell.
+
+"No, no!" replied Clawbonny. "We should be suffocated with its
+flames so near."
+
+"Perhaps it is the reflection," suggested Altamont.
+
+"Not that much even, for then we must be near land, and in that
+case we should hear the noise of the eruption."
+
+"What is it, then?" asked the captain.
+
+"It is a cosmical phenomenon," replied the Doctor, "seldom met
+hitherto. If we go on, we shall soon get out of our luminous sphere
+and be back in the darkness and tempest again."
+
+"Well, let's go on, come what may," said Hatteras.
+
+The Doctor was right. Gradually the fog began to lose its light, and
+then its transparency, and the howling wind was heard not far off. A
+few minutes more, and the little vessel was caught in a violent
+squall, and swept back into the cyclone.
+
+But the hurricane had fortunately turned a point towards the south,
+and left the vessel free to run before the wind straight towards the
+Pole. There was imminent danger of her sinking, for she sped along
+at frenzied speed, and any sudden collision with rock or iceberg
+must have inevitably dashed her to pieces.
+
+But not a man on board counselled prudence. They were intoxicated
+with the danger, and no speed could be quick enough to satisfy their
+longing impatience to reach the unknown.
+
+At last they began evidently to near the coast. Strange symptoms
+were manifest in the air; the fog suddenly rent like a curtain torn
+by the wind; and for an instant, like a flash of lightning, an
+immense column of flame was seen on the horizon.
+
+"The volcano! the volcano!" was the simultaneous exclamation.
+
+But the words had hardly passed their lips before the fantastic
+vision had vanished. The wind suddenly changed to south-east, and
+drove the ship back again from the land.
+
+"Confound it!" said Hatteras; "we weren't three miles from
+the coast."
+
+However, resistance was impossible. All that could be done was to
+keep tacking; but every few minutes the little sloop would be thrown
+on her side, though she righted herself again immediately obedient
+to the helm.
+
+As Hatteras stood with dishevelled hair, grasping the helm as if
+welded to his hand, he seemed the animating soul of the ship.
+
+All at once, a fearful sight met his gaze.
+
+Scarcely twenty yards in front was a great block of ice coming right
+towards them, mounting and falling on the stormy billows, ready to
+overturn at any moment and crush them in its descent.
+
+But this was not the only danger that threatened the bold
+navigators. The iceberg was packed with white bears, huddling close
+together, and evidently beside themselves with terror.
+
+The iceberg made frightful lurches, sometimes inclining at such a
+sharp angle that the animals rolled pell-mell over each other and
+set up a loud growling, which mingled with the roar of the elements
+and made a terrible concert.
+
+For a quarter of an hour, which seemed a whole century, the sloop
+sailed on in this formidable company, sometimes a few yards distant
+and sometimes near enough to touch. The Greenland dogs trembled for
+fear, but Duk was quite imperturbable. At last the iceberg lost
+ground, and got driven by the wind further and further away till it
+disappeared in the fog, only at intervals betraying its presence by
+the ominous growls of its equipage.
+
+[Illustration: Mast and sail were torn off, and went flying away
+through the darkness like some large white bird.--P.224]
+
+The storm now burst forth with redoubled fury. The little barque was
+lifted bodily out of the water, and whirled round and round with the
+most frightful rapidity. Mast and sail were torn off, and went
+flying away through the darkness like some large white bird. A
+whirlpool began to form among the waves, drawing down the ship
+gradually by its irresistible suction.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Deeper and deeper she sank, whizzing round at such tremendous speed
+that to the poor fellows on board, the water seemed motionless. All
+five men stood erect, gazing at each other in speechless terror. But
+suddenly the ship rose perpendicularly, her prow went above the edge
+of the vortex, and getting out of the centre of attraction by her
+own velocity, she escaped at a tangent from the circumference, and
+was thrown far beyond, swift as a ball from a cannon's mouth.
+
+Altamont, the Doctor, Johnson, and Bell were pitched flat on the
+planks. When they got up, Hatteras had disappeared!
+
+It was two o'clock in the morning.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+
+THE ENGLISH FLAG
+
+
+For a few seconds they seemed stupefied, and then a cry of
+"Hatteras!" broke from every lip.
+
+On all sides, nothing was visible but the tempestuous ocean. Duk
+barked desperately, and Bell could hardly keep him from leaping into
+the waves.
+
+"Take the helm, Altamont," said the Doctor, "and let us try
+our utmost to find our poor captain."
+
+Johnson and Bell seized the oars, and rowed about for more than an
+hour; but their search was vain--Hatteras was lost!
+
+Lost! and so near the Pole, just as he had caught sight of the goal!
+
+The Doctor called, and shouted, and fired signals, and Duk made
+piteous lamentations; but there was no response. Clawbonny could
+bear up no longer; he buried his head in his hands, and fairly wept
+aloud.
+
+At such a distance from the coast, it was impossible Hatteras could
+reach it alive, without an oar or even so much as a spar to help
+him; if ever he touched the haven of his desire, it would be as a
+swollen, mutilated corpse!
+
+Longer search was useless, and nothing remained but to resume the
+route north. The tempest was dying out, and about five in the
+morning on the 11th of July, the wind fell, and the sea gradually
+became calm. The sky recovered its polar clearness, and less than
+three miles away the land appeared in all its grandeur.
+
+The new continent was only an island, or rather a volcano, fixed
+like a lighthouse on the North Pole of the world.
+
+[Illustration: Two men in a boat observing a volcano in the
+distance.]
+
+The mountain was in full activity, pouring out a mass of burning
+stones and glowing rock. At every fresh eruption there was a
+convulsive heaving within, as if some mighty giant were respiring,
+and the masses ejected were thrown up high into the air amidst jets
+of bright flame, streams of lava rolling down the sides in impetuous
+torrents. In one part, serpents of fire seemed writhing and
+wriggling amongst smoking rocks, and in
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+another the glowing liquid fell in cascades, in the midst of purple
+vapour, into a river of fire below, formed of a thousand igneous
+streams, which emptied itself into the sea, the waters hissing and
+seething like a boiling cauldron.
+
+Apparently there was only one crater to the volcano, out of which
+the columns of fire issued, streaked with forked lightning.
+Electricity seemed to have something to do with this magnificent
+panorama.
+
+Above the panting flames waved an immense plume-shaped cloud of
+smoke, red at its base and black at its summit. It rose with
+incomparable majesty, and unrolled in thick volumes.
+
+The sky was ash-colour to a great height, and it was evident that
+the darkness that had prevailed while the tempest lasted, which had
+seemed quite inexplicable to the Doctor, was owing to the columns of
+cinders overspreading the sun like a thick curtain. He remembered a
+similar phenomenon which occurred in the Barbadoes, where the whole
+island was plunged in profound obscurity by the mass of cinders
+ejected from the crater of Isle St. Vincent.
+
+This enormous ignivomous rock in the middle of the sea was six
+thousand feet high, just about the altitude of Hecla.
+
+It seemed to rise gradually out of the water as the boat got nearer.
+There was no trace of vegetation, indeed there was no shore; the
+rock ran straight down to the sea.
+
+"Can we land?" said the Doctor.
+
+"The wind is carrying us right to it," said Altamont. "But I
+don't see an inch of land to set our foot upon."
+
+"It seems so at this distance," said Johnson; "but we shall be
+sure to find some place to run in our boat at, and that is all we
+want."
+
+"Let us go on, then," said Clawbonny, dejectedly.
+
+He had no heart now for anything. The North Pole was indeed before
+his eyes, but not the man who had discovered it.
+
+As they got nearer the island, which was not more than eight or ten
+miles in circumference, the navigators noticed a tiny fiord, just
+large enough to harbour their boat, and made towards it immediately.
+They feared their captain's dead body would meet their eyes on the
+coast, and yet it seemed difficult for a corpse to lie on it, for
+there was no shore, and the sea broke on steep rocks, which were
+covered with cinders above watermark.
+
+At last the little sloop glided gently into the narrow opening
+between two sandbanks just visible above the water, where she would
+be safe from the violence of the breakers; but before she could be
+moored, Duk began howling and barking again in the most piteous
+manner, as if calling on the cruel sea and stony rocks to yield up
+his lost master. The Doctor tried to calm him by caresses, but in
+vain. The faithful beast, as if he would represent the captain,
+sprang on shore with a tremendous bound, sending a cloud of cinders
+after him.
+
+"Duk! Duk!" called Clawbonny.
+
+But Duk had already disappeared.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+After the sloop was made fast, they all got out and went after him.
+Altamont was just going to climb to the top of a pile of stones,
+when the Doctor exclaimed, "Listen!"
+
+Duk was barking vehemently some distance off, but his bark seemed
+full of grief rather than fury.
+
+"Has he come on the track of some animal, do you think?" asked
+Johnson.
+
+"No, no!" said Clawbonny, shuddering. "His bark is too
+sorrowful; it is the dog's tear. He has found the body of
+Hatteras."
+
+They all four rushed forward, in spite of the blinding cinder-dust,
+and came to the far-end of a fiord, where they discovered the dog
+barking round a corpse wrapped in the British flag!
+
+"Hatteras! Hatteras!" cried the Doctor, throwing himself on the
+body of his friend. But next minute he started up with an
+indescribable cry, and shouted, "Alive! alive!"
+
+"Yes!" said a feeble voice; "yes, alive at the North Pole, on
+Queen's Island."
+
+"Hurrah for England!" shouted all with one accord.
+
+"And for America!" added Clawbonny, holding out one hand to
+Hatteras and the other to Altamont.
+
+Duk was not behind with his hurrah, which was worth quite as much as
+the others.
+
+For a few minutes the joy of recovery of their captain filled all
+their hearts, and the poor fellows could not restrain their tears.
+
+The Doctor found, on examination, that he was not seriously hurt.
+The wind threw him on the coast where landing was perilous work,
+but, after being driven back more than once into the sea, the hardy
+sailor had managed to scramble on to a rock, and gradually to hoist
+himself above the waves.
+
+Then he must have become insensible, for he remembered nothing more
+except rolling himself in his flag. He only awoke to consciousness
+with the loud barking and caresses of his faithful Duk.
+
+After a little, Hatteras was able to stand up supported by the
+Doctor, and tried to get back to the sloop.
+
+He kept exclaiming, "The Pole! the North Pole!"
+
+"You are happy now?" said his friend.
+
+"Yes, happy! And are not you? Isn't it joy to find yourself
+here! The ground we tread is round the Pole! The air we breathe is
+the air that blows round the Pole! The sea we have crossed is the
+sea which washes the Pole! Oh! the North Pole! the North Pole!"
+
+He had become quite delirious with excitement, and fever burned in
+his veins. His eyes shone with unnatural brilliancy, and his brain
+seemed on fire. Perfect rest was what he most needed, for the Doctor
+found it impossible to quiet him.
+
+A place of encampment must therefore be fixed upon immediately.
+
+[Illustration: Altamont speedily discovered a grotto composed of
+rocks.--P.234]
+
+Altamont speedily discovered a grotto composed of rocks, which had
+so fallen as to form a sort of cave. Johnson and Bell carried in
+provisions, and gave the dogs their liberty.
+
+About eleven o'clock, breakfast, or rather dinner, was ready,
+consisting of pemmican, salt meat, and smoking-hot tea and coffee.
+
+But Hatteras would do nothing till the exact position of the island
+was ascertained; so the Doctor and Altamont set to work with their
+instruments, and found that the exact latitude of the grotto was
+89 deg. 59' 15". The longitude was of little importance, for all
+the meridians blended a few hundred feet higher.
+
+The 90 deg. of lat. was then only about three quarters of a mile off,
+or just about the summit of the volcano.
+
+When the result was communicated to Hatteras, he desired that a
+formal document might be drawn up to attest the fact, and two copies
+made, one of which should be deposited on a cairn on the island.
+
+Clawbonny was the scribe, and indited the following document, a copy
+of which is now among the archives of the Royal Geographical Society
+of London:--
+
+"On this 11th day of July, 1861, in North latitude 89 deg. 59'
+15" was discovered Queen's Island at the North Pole, by Captain
+Hatteras, Commander of the brig Forward of Liverpool, who signs
+this, as also all his companions.
+
+"Whoever may find this document is requested to forward it to the
+Admiralty.
+
+"(Signed) JOHN HATTERAS, Commander
+
+of the Forward
+
+"DR. CLAWBONNY
+
+"ALTAMONT, Commander of the Porpoise
+
+"JOHNSON, Boatswain
+
+"BELL, Carpenter."
+
+"And now, friends, come to table," said the Doctor, merrily.
+
+Coming to table was just squatting on the ground.
+
+"But who," said Clawbonny, "would not give all the tables and
+dining-rooms in the world to dine at 89" 59' and 15" N.
+lat.?"
+
+It was an exciting occasion this first meal at the Pole! What
+neither ancients nor moderns, neither Europeans, nor Americans, nor
+Asiatics had been able to accomplish was now achieved, and all past
+sufferings and perils were forgotten in the glow of success.
+
+"But, after all," said Johnson, after toasts to Hatteras and the
+North Pole had been enthusiastically drunk, "what is there so very
+special about the North Pole? Will you tell me, Mr. Clawbonny?"
+
+"Just this, my good Johnson. It is the only point of the globe
+that is motionless; all the other points are revolving with extreme
+rapidity."
+
+"But I don't see that we are any more motionless here than at
+Liverpool."
+
+"Because in both cases you are a party concerned, both in the
+motion and the rest; but the fact is certain."
+
+Clawbonny then went on to describe the diurnal and annual motions of
+the earth--the one round its own axis, the extremities of which are
+the poles, which is accomplished in twenty-four hours, and the other
+round the sun, which takes a whole year.
+
+Bell and Johnson listened half incredulously, and
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+couldn't see why the earth could not have been allowed to keep
+still, till Altamont informed them that they would then have had
+neither day nor night, nor spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
+
+"Ay, and worse still," said Clawbonny, "if the motion chanced
+to be interrupted, we should fall right into the sun in sixty-four
+and a half days."
+
+"What! take sixty-four and a half days, to fall?" exclaimed
+Johnson.
+
+"Yes, we are ninety-five millions of miles off. But when I say the
+Pole is motionless, it is not strictly true; it is only so in
+comparison with the rest of the globe, for it has a certain movement
+of its own, and completes a circle in about twenty-six thousand
+years. This comes from the precession of the equinoxes."
+
+A long and learned talk was started on this subject between Altamont
+and the Doctor, simplified, however, as much as possible for the
+benefit of Bell and Johnson.
+
+Hatteras took no part in it, and even when they went on to speculate
+about the earth's centre, and discussed several of the theories
+that had been advanced respecting it, he seemed not to hear; it was
+evident his thoughts were far away.
+
+Among other opinions put forth was one in our own days, which
+greatly excited Altamont's surprise. It was held that there was an
+immense opening at the poles which led into the heart of the earth,
+and that it was out of the opening that the light of the Aurora
+Borealis streamed. This was gravely stated, and Captain Synness, a
+countryman of our own, actually proposed that Sir Humphrey Davy,
+Humboldt, and Arago should undertake an expedition through it, but
+they refused."
+
+"And quite right too," said Altamont.
+
+"So say I; but you see, my friends, what absurdities imagination
+has conjured up about these regions, and how, sooner or later, the
+simple reality comes to light."
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+
+MOUNT HATTERAS.
+
+
+After this conversation they all made themselves as comfortable as
+they could, and lay down to sleep.
+
+All, except Hatteras; and why could this extraordinary man not sleep
+like the others?
+
+Was not the purpose of his life attained now? Had he not realized
+his most daring project? Why could he not rest? Indeed, might not
+one have supposed that, after the strain his nervous system had
+undergone, he would long for rest?
+
+But no, he grew more and more excited, and it was not the thought of
+returning that so affected him. Was he bent on going farther still?
+Had his passion for travel no limits? Was the world too small for
+him now he had circumnavigated it.
+
+Whatever might be the cause, he could not sleep; yet this first
+night at the Pole was clear and calm. The isle was absolutely
+uninhabited--not a bird was to be seen in this burning atmosphere,
+not an animal on these scoriae-covered rocks, not a fish in these
+seething waters. Next morning, when Altamont, and the others awoke,
+Hatteras was gone. Feeling uneasy at his absence, they hurried out
+of the grotto in search of him.
+
+[Illustration: There he was standing on a rock, gazing fixedly at
+the top of the mountain.--P.242]
+
+There he was standing on a rock, gazing fixedly at the top of the
+mountain. His instruments were in his hand, and he was evidently
+calculating the exact longitude and latitude.
+
+The Doctor went towards him and spoke, but it was long before he
+could rouse him from his absorbing contemplations. At last the
+captain seemed to understand, and Clawbonny said, while he examined
+him with a keen scrutinizing glance--
+
+"Let us go round the island. Here we are, all ready for our last
+excursion."
+
+"The last!" repeated Hatteras, as if in a dream. "Yes!, the
+last truly, but," he added, with more animation, "the most
+wonderful."
+
+He pressed both hands on his brow as he spoke, as if to calm the
+inward tumult.
+
+Just then Altamont and the others came up, and their appearance
+seemed to dispel the hallucinations under which he was labouring.
+
+"My friends," he said, in a voice full of emotion, "thanks for
+your courage, thanks for your perseverance, thanks for your
+superhuman efforts, through which we are permitted to set our feet
+on this soil."
+
+"Captain," said Johnson, "we have only obeyed orders to you
+alone belongs the honour."
+
+"No, no!" exclaimed Hatteras, with a violent outburst of
+emotion, "to all of you as much as to me! To Altamont as much as
+any of us, as much as the Doctor himself! Oh, let my heart break in
+your hands, it cannot contain its joy and gratitude any longer."
+
+He grasped the hands of his brave companions as he spoke, and paced
+up and down as if he had lost all self-control.
+
+"We have only done our duty as Englishmen," said Bell.
+
+"And as friends," added Clawbonny.
+
+"Yes, but all did not do it," replied Hatteras "some gave way.
+However, we must pardon them--pardon both the traitors and those
+who were led away by them. Poor fellows! I forgive them. You hear
+me, Doctor?"
+
+"Yes," replied Clawbonny, beginning to be seriously uneasy at
+his friend's excitement.
+
+"I have no wish, therefore," continued the captain, "that they
+should lose the little fortune they came so far to seek. No, the
+original agreement is to remain unaltered, and they shall be
+rich--if they ever see England again."
+
+It would have been difficult not to have been touched by the
+pathetic tone of voice in which Hatteras said this.
+
+"But, captain," interrupted Johnson, trying to joke, "one
+would think you were making your will!"
+
+"Perhaps I am," said Hatteras, gravely.
+
+"And yet you have a long bright career of glory before you!"
+
+"Who knows?" was the reply.
+
+No one answered, and the Doctor did not dare to guess his meaning;
+but Hatteras soon made them understand it, for presently he said, in
+a hurried, agitated manner, as if he could scarcely command
+himself--
+
+"Friends, listen to me. We have done much already, but much yet
+remains to be done."
+
+His companions heard him with profound astonishment.
+
+"Yes," he resumed, "we are close to the Pole, but we are not
+on it."
+
+"How do you make that out," said Altamont.
+
+"Yes," replied Hatteras, with vehemence, "I said an Englishman
+should plant his foot on the Pole of the world! I said it, and an
+Englishman shall."
+
+"What!" cried Clawbonny.
+
+"We are still 45" from the unknown point," resumed Hatteras,
+with increasing animation, "and to that point I shall go."
+
+"But it is on the summit of the volcano," said the Doctor.
+
+"I shall go."
+
+"It is an inaccessible cone!"
+
+"I shall go."
+
+"But it is a yawning fiery crater!"
+
+"I shall go."
+
+The tone of absolute determination in which Hatteras pronounced
+these words it is impossible to describe.
+
+His friends were stupefied, and gazed in terror at the blazing
+mountain.
+
+At last the Doctor recovered himself, and began to urge and entreat
+Hatteras to renounce his project. He tried every means his heart
+dictated, from humble supplications to friendly threats; but he
+could gain nothing--a sort of frenzy had come over the captain, an
+absolute monomania about the Pole.
+
+Nothing but violent measures would keep him back from destruction,
+but the Doctor was unwilling to employ these unless driven to
+extremity.
+
+He trusted, moreover, that physical impossibilities, insuperable
+obstacles would bar his further progress, and meantime finding all
+protestations were useless, he simply said--
+
+"Very well, since you are bent on it, we'll go too."
+
+"Yes," replied Hatteras, "half-way up the mountain, but not a
+step beyond. You know you have to carry back to England the
+duplicate of the document in the cairn----"
+
+"Yes; but----"
+
+"It is settled," said Hatteras, in an imperious tone; "and
+since the prayers of a friend will not suffice, the captain
+commands."
+
+The Doctor did not insist longer, and a few minutes after the little
+band set out, accompanied by Duk.
+
+It was about eight o'clock when they commenced their difficult
+ascent; the sky was splendid, and the thermometer stood at 52 deg.
+
+Hatteras and his dog went first, closely followed by the others.
+
+"I am afraid," said Johnson to the Doctor.
+
+"No, no, there's nothing to be afraid of; we are here."
+
+This singular little island appeared to be of recent formation, and
+was evidently the product of successive volcanic eruptions. The
+rocks were all lying loose on the top of each other, and it was a
+marvel how they preserved their equilibrium. Strictly speaking, the
+mountain was only a heap of stones thrown down from a height, and
+the mass of rocks which composed the island had evidently come out
+of the bowels of the earth.
+
+The earth, indeed, may be compared to a vast cauldron of spherical
+form, in which, under the influence of a central fire, immense
+quantities of vapours are generated, which would explode the globe
+but for the safety-valves outside.
+
+These safety-valves are volcanoes, when one closes another opens;
+and at the Poles where the crust of the earth is thinner, owing to
+its being flattened, it is not surprising that a volcano should be
+suddenly formed by the upheaving of some part of the ocean-bed.
+
+The Doctor, while following Hatteras, was closely following all the
+peculiarities of the island, and he was further confirmed in his
+opinion as to its recent formation by the absence of water. Had it
+existed for centuries, the thermal springs would have flowed from
+its bosom.
+
+As they got higher, the ascent became more and more difficult, for
+the flanks of the mountain were almost perpendicular, and it
+required the utmost care to keep them from falling. Clouds of
+scoriae and ashes would whirl round them repeatedly, threatening
+them with asphyxia, or torrents of lava would bar their passage. In
+parts where these torrents ran horizontally, the outside had become
+hardened; while underneath was the boiling lava, and every step the
+travellers took had first to be tested with the iron-tipped staff to
+avoid being suddenly plunged into the scalding liquid.
+
+At intervals large fragments of red-hot rock were thrown up from the
+crater, and burst in the air like bomb-shells, scattering the debris
+to enormous distances in all directions.
+
+Hatteras, however, climbed up the steepest ascents with surprising
+agility, disdaining the help of his staff.
+
+He arrived before long at a circular rock, a sort of plateau about
+ten feet wide. A river of boiling lava surrounded it, except in one
+part, where it forked away to a higher rock, leaving a narrow
+passage, through which Hatteras fearlessly passed.
+
+Here he stopped, and his companions managed to rejoin him. He seemed
+to be measuring with his eye the distance he had yet to get over.
+Horizontally, he was not more than two hundred yards from the top of
+the crater, but vertically he had nearly three times that distance
+to traverse.
+
+The ascent had occupied three hours already. Hatteras showed no
+signs of fatigue, while the others were almost spent.
+
+The summit of the volcano appeared inaccessible, and the Doctor
+determined at any price to prevent Hatteras from attempting to
+proceed. He tried gentle means first, but the captain's excitement
+was fast becoming delirium. During their ascent, symptoms of
+insanity had become more and more marked, and no one could be
+surprised who knew anything of his previous history.
+
+"Hatteras," said the Doctor, "it is enough! we cannot go
+further!"
+
+"Stop, then," he replied, in a strangely altered voice; "I am
+going higher."
+
+"No, it is useless; you are at the Pole already."
+
+"No, no! higher, higher!"
+
+"My friend, do you know who is speaking to you? It is I, Doctor
+Clawbonny."
+
+"Higher, higher!" repeated the madman.
+
+"Very well, we shall not allow it--that is all."
+
+He had hardly uttered the words before Hatteras, by a superhuman
+effort, sprang over the boiling lava, and was beyond the reach of
+his companions.
+
+A cry of horror burst from every lip, for they thought the poor
+captain must have perished in that fiery gulf; but there he was safe
+on the other side, accompanied by his faithful Duk, who would not
+leave him.
+
+He speedily disappeared behind a curtain of smoke, and they heard
+his voice growing fainter in the distance, shouting--
+
+"To the north! to the north! to the top of Mount Hatteras!
+Remember Mount Hatteras!"
+
+All pursuit of him was out of the question; it was impossible to
+leap across the fiery torrent, and equally impossible to get round
+it. Altamont, indeed, was mad enough to make an attempt, and would
+certainly have lost his life if the others had not held him back by
+main force.
+
+"Hatteras! Hatteras!" shouted the Doctor, but no response was
+heard save the faint bark of Duk.
+
+At intervals, however, a glimpse of him could be caught through the
+clouds of smoke and showers of ashes. Sometimes his head, sometimes
+his arm appeared; then he was out of sight again, and a few minutes
+later was seen higher up clinging to the rocks. His size constantly
+decreased with the fantastic rapidity of objects rising upwards in
+the air. In half-an-hour he was only half his size.
+
+The air was full of the deep rumbling noise of the volcano, and the
+mountain shook and trembled. From time to time a loud fail was heard
+behind, and the travellers would see some enormous rock rebounding
+from the heights to engulph itself in the polar basin below.
+
+[Illustration: Hatteras did not even turn once to look back, but
+marched straight on, carrying his country's flag attached to his
+staff.--P.249]
+
+Hatteras did not even turn once to look back, but marched straight
+on, carrying his country's flag attached to his staff. His
+terrified friends watched every movement, and saw him gradually
+decrease to microscopic dimensions, while Duk looked no larger than
+a big rat.
+
+Then came a moment of intense anxiety, for the wind beat down on
+them an immense sheet of flame, and they could see nothing but the
+red glare. A cry of agony escaped the Doctor; but an instant
+afterwards Hatteras reappeared, waving his flag.
+
+For a whole hour this fearful spectacle went on--an hour of battle
+with unsteady loose rocks and quagmires of ashes, where the
+foolhardy climber sank up to his waist. Sometimes they saw him hoist
+himself up by leaning knees and loins against the rocks in narrow,
+intricate winding paths, and sometimes he would be hanging on by
+both hands to some sharp crag, swinging to and fro like a withered
+tuft.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+At last he reached the summit of the mountain, the mouth of the
+crater. Here the Doctor hoped the infatuated man would stop, at any
+rate, and would, perhaps, recover his senses, and expose himself to
+no more danger than the descent involved.
+
+Once more he shouted--
+
+"Hatteras! Hatteras!"
+
+There was such a pathos of entreaty in his tone that Altamont felt
+moved to his inmost soul.
+
+"I'll save him yet!" he exclaimed; and before Clawbonny could
+hinder him, he had cleared with a bound the torrent of fire, and was
+out of sight among the rocks.
+
+Meantime, Hatteras had mounted a rock which overhung the crater, and
+stood waving his flag amidst showers of stones which rained down on
+him. Duk was by his side; but the poor beast was growing dizzy in
+such close proximity to the abyss.
+
+Hatteras balanced his staff in one hand, and with the other sought
+to find the precise mathematical point where all the meridians of
+the globe meet, the point on which it was his sublime purpose to
+plant his foot.
+
+All at once the rock gave way, and he disappeared. A cry of horror
+broke from his companions, and rang to the top of the mountain.
+Clawbonny thought his friend had perished, and lay buried for ever
+in the depths of the volcano. A second--only a second, though it
+seemed an age--elapsed, and there was Altamont and the dog holding
+the ill-fated Hatteras! Man and dog had caught him at the very
+moment when he disappeared in the abyss.
+
+Hatteras was saved! Saved in spite of himself; and half-an-hour
+later be lay unconscious in the arms of his despairing companions.
+
+When he came to himself, the Doctor looked at him in speechless
+anguish, for there was no glance of recognition in his eye. It was
+the eye of a blind man, who gazes without seeing.
+
+"Good heavens!" exclaimed Johnson; "he is blind!"
+
+"No," replied Clawbonny, "no! My poor friends, we have only
+saved the body of Hatteras; his soul is left behind on the top of
+the volcano. His reason is gone!"
+
+"Insane!" exclaimed Johnson and Altamont, in consternation.
+
+"Insane!" replied the Doctor, and the big tears ran down his
+cheeks.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+
+RETURN SOUTH.
+
+
+Three hours after this sad denouement of the adventures of Captain
+Hatteras, the whole party were back once more in the grotto.
+
+Clawbonny was asked his opinion as to what was best to be done.
+
+"Well, friends," he said, "we cannot stay longer in this
+island; the sea is open, and we have enough provisions. We ought to
+start at once, and get back without the least delay to Fort
+Providence, where we must winter."
+
+"That is my opinion, too," said Altamont. "The wind is
+favourable, so to-morrow we will get to sea."
+
+The day passed in profound dejection. The insanity of the captain
+was a bad omen and when they began to talk over the return voyage,
+their hearts failed them for fear. They missed the intrepid spirit
+of their leader.
+
+However, like brave men, they prepared to battle anew with the
+elements and with themselves, if ever they felt inclined to give way.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+Next morning they made all ready to sail, and brought the tent and
+all its belongings on board.
+
+But before leaving these rocks, never to return, the Doctor carrying
+out the intentions of Hatteras, had a cairn erected on the very spot
+where the poor fellow had jumped ashore. It was made of great blocks
+placed one on the top of the other, so as to be a landmark perfectly
+visible while the eruptions of the volcano left it undisturbed. On
+one of the side stones, Bell chiselled the simple inscription--
+
+JOHN HATTERAS.
+
+The duplicate of the document attesting the discovery of the North
+Pole was enclosed in a tinned iron cylinder, and deposited in the
+cairn, to remain as a silent witness among those desert rocks.
+
+This done, the four men and the captain, a poor body without a soul,
+set out on the return voyage, accompanied by the faithful Duk, who
+had become sad and downcast. A new sail was manufactured out of the
+tent, and about ten o'clock, the little sloop sailed out before
+the wind.
+
+She made a quick passage, finding abundance of open water. It was
+certainly easier to get away from the Pole than to get to it.
+
+But Hatteras knew nothing that was passing around him. He lay full
+length in the boat, perfectly silent, with lifeless eye and folded
+arms, and Duk lying at his feet. Clawbonny frequently addressed him,
+but could elicit no reply.
+
+On the 15th they sighted Altamont Harbour, but as the sea was open
+all along the coast, they determined to go round to Victoria Bay by
+water, instead of crossing New America in the sledge.
+
+The voyage was easy and rapid. In a week they accomplished what had
+taken a fortnight in the sledge, and on the 23rd they cast anchor in
+Victoria Bay.
+
+As soon as the sloop was made fast, they all hastened to Fort
+Providence. But what a scene of devastation met their eyes!
+Doctor's House, stores, powder-magazine, fortifications, all had
+melted away, and the provisions had been ransacked by devouring
+animals.
+
+The navigators had almost come to the end of their supplies, and had
+been reckoning on replenishing their stores at Fort Providence. The
+impossibility of wintering there now was evident, and they decided
+to get to Baffin's Bay by the shortest route.
+
+"We have no alternative," said Clawbonny; "Baffin's Bay is
+not more than six hundred miles distant. We can sail as long as
+there is water enough under our sloop, and get to Jones' Sound,
+and then on to the Danish settlements."
+
+"Yes," said Altamont; "let us collect what food remains, and
+be off at once."
+
+After a thorough search, a few cases of pemmican were found
+scattered here and there, and two barrels of preserved meat,
+altogether enough for six weeks, and a good supply of powder. It was
+soon collected and brought on board, and the remainder of the day
+was employed in caulking the sloop and putting her in good trim.
+
+Next morning they put out once more to sea. The voyage presented no
+great difficulties, the drift-ice being easily avoided; but still
+the Doctor thought it advisable, in case of possible delays, to
+limit the rations to one-half. This was no great hardship, as there
+was not much work for anyone to do, and all were in perfect health.
+
+Besides, they found a little shooting, and brought down ducks, and
+geese, and guillemots, or sea turtledoves. Water they were able to
+supply themselves with in abundance, from the fresh-water icebergs
+they constantly fell in with as they kept near the coast, not daring
+to venture out to the open sea in so frail a barque.
+
+At that time of the year, the thermometer was already constantly
+below freezing point. The frequent rains changed to snow, and the
+weather became gloomy. Each day the sun dipped lower below the
+horizon, and on the 30th, for a few minutes, he was out of sight
+altogether.
+
+However, the little sloop sailed steadily on without stopping an
+instant. They knew what fatigues and obstacles a land journey
+involved, if they should be forced to adopt it, and no time was to
+be lost, for soon the open water would harden to firm ground;
+already the young ice had begun to form. In these high latitudes
+there is neither spring nor autumn; winter follows close on the
+heels of summer.
+
+On the 31st the first stars glimmered overhead, and from that time
+forwards there was continual fog, which considerably impeded
+navigation.
+
+The Doctor became very uneasy at these multiplied indications of
+approaching winter. He knew the difficulties Sir John Ross had to
+contend with after he left his ship to try and reach Baffin's Bay,
+and how, after all, he was compelled to return and pass a fourth
+winter on board. It was bad enough with shelter and food and fuel,
+but if any such calamity befell the survivors of the Forward, if
+they were obliged to stop or return, they were lost.
+
+[Illustration: ]
+
+The Doctor said nothing of his anxieties to his companions, but only
+urged them to get as far east as possible.
+
+At last, after thirty days' tolerably quick sailing, and after
+battling for forty-eight hours against the increasing drift ice, and
+risking the frail sloop a hundred times, the navigators saw
+themselves blocked in on all sides. Further progress was impossible,
+for the sea was frozen in every direction, and the thermometer was
+only 15 deg. above zero.
+
+Altamont made a reckoning with scrupulous precision, and found they
+were in 77 deg.15' latitude, and 85 deg. 2' longitude.
+
+"This is our exact position then," said the Doctor. "We are in
+South Lincoln, just at Cape Eden, and are entering Jones' Sound.
+With a little more good luck, we should have found open water right
+to Baffin's Bay. But we must not grumble. If my poor Hatteras had
+found as navigable a sea at first, he would have soon reached the
+Pole. His men would not have deserted him, and his brain would not
+have given way under the pressure of terrible trial."
+
+"I suppose, then," said Altamont, "our only course is to leave
+the sloop, and get by sledge to the east coast of Lincoln."
+
+"Yes; but I think we should go through Jones' Sound, and get to
+South Devon instead of crossing Lincoln."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"Because the nearer we get to Lancaster Sound, the more chance we
+have of meeting whalers."
+
+"You are right; but I question whether the ice is firm enough to
+make it practicable."
+
+"We'll try," replied Clawbonny.
+
+The little vessel was unloaded, and the sledge put together again.
+All the parts were in good condition, so the next day the dogs were
+harnessed, and they started off along the coast to reach the
+ice-field; but Altamont's opinion proved right. They could not get
+through Jones' Sound, and were obliged to follow the coast to
+Lincoln.
+
+At last, on the 24th, they set foot on North Devon.
+
+"Now," said Clawbonny, "we have only to cross this, and get to
+Cape Warender at the entrance to Lancaster Sound."
+
+But the weather became frightful, and very cold. The snow-storms and
+tempests returned with winter violence, and the travellers felt too
+weak to contend with them. Their stock of provisions was almost
+exhausted, and rations had to be reduced now to a third, that the
+dogs might have food enough to keep them in working condition.
+
+The nature of the ground added greatly to the fatigue. North Devon
+is extremely wild and rugged, and the path across the Trauter
+mountains is through difficult gorges. The whole party--men, and
+dogs, and sledge alike--were frequently forced to stop, for they
+could not struggle on against the fury of the elements. More than
+once despair crept over the brave little band, hardy as they were,
+and used to Polar sufferings. Though scarcely aware of it
+themselves, they were completely worn out, physically and mentally.
+
+It was not till the 30th of August that they emerged from these wild
+mountains into a plain, which seemed to have been upturned and
+convulsed by volcanic action at some distant period.
+
+Here it was absolutely necessary to take a few days' rest, for the
+travellers could not drag one foot after the other, and two of the
+dogs had died from exhaustion. None of the party felt equal to put
+up the tent, so they took shelter behind an iceberg.
+
+Provisions were now so reduced, that, notwithstanding their scanty
+rations, there was only enough left for one week. Starvation stared
+the poor fellows in the face.
+
+[Illustration: "Dead, frozen----"--P.262]
+
+Altamont, who had displayed great unselfishness and devotion to the
+others, roused his sinking energies, and determined to go out and
+find food for his comrades.
+
+He took his gun, called Duk, and went off almost unnoticed by the
+rest.
+
+He had been absent about an hour, and only once during that time had
+they heard the report of his gun; and now he was coming back
+empty-handed, but running as if terrified.
+
+"What is the matter?" asked the Doctor.
+
+"Down there, under the snow!" said Altamont, speaking as if
+scared, and pointing in a particular direction.
+
+"What?"
+
+"A whole party of men!"
+
+"Alive?"
+
+"Dead--frozen--and even--"
+
+He did not finish the sentence, but a look of unspeakable horror
+came over his face.
+
+The Doctor and the others were so roused by this incident, that they
+managed to get up and drag themselves after Altamont towards the
+place he indicated.
+
+They soon arrived, at a narrow part at the bottom of a ravine, and
+what a spectacle met their gaze! Dead bodies, already stiff, lay
+half-buried in a winding-sheet of snow. A leg visible here, an arm
+there, and yonder shrunken hands and rigid faces, stamped with the
+expression of rage and despair.
+
+The Doctor stooped down to look at them more closely, but instantly
+started back pale and agitated, while Duk barked ominously.
+
+"Horrible, horrible!" he said.
+
+"What is it?" asked Johnson.
+
+"Don't you recognize them?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"Look and see!"
+
+It was evident this ravine had been but recently the scene of a
+fearful straggle with cold, and despair, and starvation, for by
+certain horrible remains it was manifest that the poor wretches had
+been feeding on human flesh, perhaps while still warm and
+palpitating; and among them the Doctor recognized Shandon, Pen, and
+the ill-fated crew of the Forward! Their strength had failed;
+provisions had come to an end; their boat had been broken, perhaps
+by an avalanche or engulphed in some abyss, and they could not take
+advantage of the open sea; or perhaps they had lost their way in
+wandering over these unknown continents. Moreover, men who set out
+under the excitement of a revolt were not likely to remain long
+united. The leader of a rebellion has but a doubtful power, and no
+doubt Shandon's authority had been soon cast off.
+
+Be that as it might, it was evident the crew had come through
+agonies of suffering and despair before this last terrible
+catastrophe, but the secret of their miseries is buried with them
+beneath the polar snows.
+
+"Come away! come away!" said the Doctor, dragging his companions
+from the scene. Horror gave them momentary strength, and they
+resumed their march without stopping a minute longer.
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+
+It would be useless to enumerate all the misfortunes which befell
+the survivors of the expedition. Even the men themselves were never
+able to give any detailed narrative of the events which occurred
+during the week subsequent to the horrible discovery related in the
+last chapter. However, on the 9th of September, by superhuman
+exertions, they arrived at last at Cape Horsburg, the extreme point
+of North Devon.
+
+They were absolutely starving. For forty-eight hours they had tasted
+nothing, and their last meal had been off the flesh of their last
+Esquimaux dog. Bell could go no further, and Johnson felt himself
+dying.
+
+They were on the shore of Baffin's Bay, now half-frozen over; that
+is to say, on the road to Europe, and three miles off the waves were
+dashing noiselessly on the sharp edges of the ice-field.
+
+Here they must wait their chance of a whaler appearing; and for how
+long?
+
+But Heaven pitied the poor fellows, for the very next day Altamont
+distinctly perceived a sail on the horizon. Every one knows the
+torturing suspense that follows such an appearance, and the
+agonizing dread lest it should prove a false hope. The vessel seems
+alternately to approach and recede, and too often just at the very
+moment when the poor castaways think they are saved, the sail begins
+to disappear, and is soon out of sight.
+
+[Illustration: Two hours later, after unheard-of exertions, the
+survivors of the Forward were picked up by the Hans
+Christian.--P.266]
+
+The Doctor and his companions went through all these experiences.
+They had succeeded in reaching the western boundary of the ice-field
+by carrying and pushing each other along, and they watched the ship
+gradually fade away from view without observing them, in spite of
+their loud cries for help.
+
+Just then a happy inspiration came to the Doctor. His fertile
+genius, which had served him many a time in such good stead,
+supplied him with one last idea!
+
+A floe driven by the current struck against the icefield, and
+Clawbonny exclaimed, pointing to it--
+
+"This floe!"
+
+His companions could not understand what he meant.
+
+"Let us embark on it! let us embark on it!"
+
+"Oh! Mr. Clawbonny, Mr. Clawbonny," said Johnson, pressing his
+hand.
+
+Bell, assisted by Altamont, hurried to the sledge, and brought back
+one of the poles, which he stuck fast on the ice like a mast, and
+fastened it with ropes. The tent was torn up to furnish a sail, and
+as soon as the frail raft was ready the poor fellows jumped upon it,
+and sailed out to the open sea.
+
+Two hours later, after unheard-of exertions, the survivors of the
+Forward were picked up by the Hans Christian, a Danish whaler, on
+her way to Davis' Straits. They were more like spectres than human
+beings, and the sight of their sufferings was enough. It told its
+own tale; but the captain received them with such hearty sympathy,
+and lavished on them such care and kindness, that he succeeded in
+keeping them alive.
+
+Ten days afterwards, Clawbonny, Johnson, Bell, Altamont, and Captain
+Hatteras landed at Korsam, in Zealand, an island belonging to
+Denmark. They took the steamer to Kiel, and from there proceeded by
+Altona and Hamburg to London, where they arrived on the 13th of the
+same month, scarcely recovered after their long sufferings.
+
+The first care of Clawbonny was to request the Royal Geographical
+Society to receive a communication from him. He was accordingly
+admitted to the next
+
+[Illustration: --P.267]
+
+seance, and one can imagine the astonishment of the learned
+assembly and the enthusiastic applause produced by the reading of
+Hatteras' document.
+
+The English have a passion for geographical discovery, from the lord
+to the cockney, from the merchant down to the dock labourer, and the
+news of this grand discovery speedily flashed along the telegraph
+wires, throughout the length and breadth of the kingdom. Hatteras
+was lauded as a martyr by all the newspapers, and every Englishman
+felt proud of him.
+
+The Doctor and his companions had the honour of being presented to
+the Queen by the Lord Chancellor, and they were feted and
+"lionized" in all quarters.
+
+The Government confirmed the names of "Queen's Island,"
+"Mount Hatteras," and "Altamont Harbour."
+
+Altamont would not part from his companions in misery and glory, but
+followed them to Liverpool, where they were joyously welcomed back,
+after being so long supposed dead and buried beneath the eternal
+snows.
+
+But Dr. Clawbonny would never allow that any honour was due to
+himself. He claimed all the merit of the discovery for his
+unfortunate captain, and in the narrative of his voyage, published
+the next year under the auspices of the Royal Geographical Society,
+he places John Hatteras on a level with the most illustrious
+navigators, and makes him the compeer of all the brave, daring men
+who have sacrificed themselves for the progress of science.
+
+The insanity of this poor victim of a sublime passion was of a mild
+type, and he lived quietly at Sten Cottage, a private asylum near
+Liverpool, where the Doctor himself had placed him. He never spoke,
+and understood nothing that was said to him; reason and speech had
+fled together. The only tie that connected him with the outside
+world was his friendship for Duk, who was allowed to remain with him.
+
+For a considerable time the captain had been in the habit of walking
+in the garden for hours, accompanied by his faithful dog, who
+watched him with sad, wistful eyes, but his promenade was always in
+one direction in a particular part of the garden. When he got to the
+end of this path, he would stop and begin to walk backwards. If
+anyone stopped him he would point with his finger towards a certain
+part of the sky, but let anyone attempt to turn him round, and he
+became angry, while Duk, as if sharing his master's sentiments,
+would bark furiously.
+
+The Doctor, who often visited his afflicted friend, noticed this
+strange proceeding one day, and soon understood the reason of it. He
+saw how it was that he paced so constantly in a given direction, as
+if under the influence of some magnetic force.
+
+This was the secret: John Hatteras invariably walked towards the
+North.
+
+The End.
+
+
+End of the Voyage Extraordinaire
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Field of Ice, by Jules Verne
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