wbonny, you were quite frostbitten; your nose was quite
white when I looked at you, and without my bit of rubbing you would
be minus nose."

"Thanks, Bell," said the doctor; "I'll do the same for you in case
of need."

"I hope you will, Mr. Clawbonny, and I only wish we had nothing worse
to look forward to!"

"You mean Simpson! Poor fellow, he is suffering dreadfully!"

"Do you fear for him?" asked Hatteras quickly.

"Yes, captain," answered the doctor.

"What do you fear?"

"A violent attack of scurvy. His legs swell already, and his gums
are attacked; the poor fellow is lying under his blankets on the sledge,
and every shock increases his pain. I pity him, but I can't do anything
for him!"

"Poor Simpson!" said Bell.

"Perhaps we had better stop a day or two," said the doctor.

"Stop!" cried Hatteras, "when the lives of eighteen men depend upon
our return! You know we have only enough provisions left for twenty
days."

Neither the doctor nor Bell could answer that, and the sledge went
on its way. In the evening they stopped at the foot of an ice-hill,
out of which Bell soon cut a cavern; the travellers took refuge in
it, and the doctor passed the night in nursing Simpson; he was a prey
to the scurvy, and constant groans issued from his terrified lips.

"Ah, Mr. Clawbonny, I shall never get over it. I wish I was dead
already."

"Take courage, my poor fellow!" answered the doctor, with pity in
his tone, and he answered Simpson's complaints by incessant attention.
Though half-dead with fatigue, he employed a part of the night in
making the sick man a soothing draught, and rubbed him with lime-juice.
Unfortunately it had little effect, and did not prevent the terrible
malady spreading. The next day they were obliged to lift the poor
fellow on to the sledge, although he begged and prayed them to leave
him to die in peace, and begin their painful march again.

The freezing mists wet the three men to the skin; the snow and sleet
beat in their faces; they did the work of beasts of burden, and had
not even sufficient food. Dick ran hither and thither, discovering
by instinct the best route to follow. During the morning of the 23rd
of January, when it was nearly dark, for the new moon had not yet
made her appearance, Dick ran on first; he was lost to sight for
several hours. Hatteras became anxious, as there were many bear-marks
on the ground; he was considering what had better be done, when a
loud barking w