Shandon could not believe his own eyes, and before reading such a
strange epistle he caused the doctor, James Wall and Johnson to be
called, and showed them the letter.

"That grows very strange," said Johnson.

"It's delightful!" thought the doctor.

"At last," cried Shandon, "we shall know the secret."

With a quick hand he tore the envelope and read as follows:

"COMMANDER,--The captain of the _Forward_ is pleased with the
coolness, skill, and courage that your men, your officers, and
yourself have shown on the late occasions, and begs you to give
evidence of his gratitude to the crew.

"Have the goodness to take a northerly direction towards Melville
Bay, and from thence try and penetrate into Smith's Straits.

"THE CAPTAIN OF THE _Forward_,

"K. Z.

"Monday, April 30th,

"Abreast of Cape Walsingham."

"Is that all?" cried the doctor.

"That's all," replied Shandon, and the letter fell from his hands.

"Well," said Wall, "this chimerical captain doesn't even mention
coming on board, so I conclude that he never will come."

"But how did this letter get here?" said Johnson.

Shandon was silent.

"Mr. Wall is right," replied the doctor, after picking up the letter
and turning it over in every direction; "the captain won't come on
board for an excellent reason----"

"And what's that?" asked Shandon quickly.

"Because he is here already," replied the doctor simply.

"Already!" said Shandon. "What do you mean?"

"How do you explain the arrival of this letter if such is not the
case?"

Johnson nodded his head in sign of approbation.

"It is not possible!" said Shandon energetically. "I know every man
of the crew. We should have to believe, in that case, that the captain
has been with us ever since we set sail. It is not possible, I tell
you. There isn't one of them that I haven't seen for more than two
years in Liverpool; doctor, your supposition is inadmissible."

"Then what do you admit, Shandon?"

"Everything but that! I admit that the captain, or one of his men,
has profited by the darkness, the fog, or anything you like, in order
to slip on board; we are not very far from land; there are Esquimaux
kayaks that pass unperceived between the icebergs; someone may have
come on board and left the letter; the fog was intense enough to favour
their design."

"And to hinder them from seein