ive, and he added--

"But perhaps he would listen to the crew."

"The crew!" answered Shandon, shrugging his shoulders; "you don't
know the crew. The men know they are nearing the 72nd parallel, and
that they will earn a thousand pounds for every degree above that."

"The captain knew what he was doing when he offered them that."

"Of course he did, and for the present he can do what he likes with
them."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that while they have nothing to do, and there is an open sea,
they will go on right enough; but wait till difficulty and danger
come, and you will see how much they'll think about the money!"

"Then you don't think Hatteras will succeed?"

"No, he will not; to succeed in such an enterprise there must be a
good understanding between him and his officers, and that does not
exist. Hatteras is a madman; all his past career proves it. Well,
we shall see; perhaps circumstances will force them to give the
command to a less adventurous captain."

"Still," said Wall, shaking his head, "he will always have on his
side----"

"Dr. Clawbonny, a man who only cares for science, and Johnson, a sailor
who only cares to obey, and perhaps two more men like Bell, the
carpenter; four at the most, and we are eighteen on board! No, Wall,
Hatteras has not got the confidence of his men, and he knows it, so
he bribes them; he profited cleverly by the Franklin affair, but that
won't last, I tell you, and if he doesn't reach Beechey Island he's
a lost man!"

"Suppose the crew should take it into its head----"

"Don't tell the crew what I think," answered Shandon quickly; "the
men will soon see for themselves. Besides, just now we must go north.
Who knows if Hatteras won't find that way will bring us back sooner?
At the end of McClintock Channel lies Melville Bay, and from thence
go the straits that lead to Baffin's Bay. Hatteras must take care!
The way to the east is easier than the road to the north!"

Hatteras was not mistaken in his opinion that Shandon would betray
him if he could. Besides, Shandon was right in attributing the
contentment of the men to the hope of gain. Clifton had counted exactly
how much each man would have. Without reckoning the captain and the
doctor, who would not expect a share in the bounty-money, there
remained sixteen men to divide it amongst. If ever they succeeded
in reaching the Pole, each man would have 1,125 pounds--that is to
say, a fortune. It would cost the captai