as heard in front. The little procession moved on
quicker, and soon came upon the faithful animal in the depth of a
ravine. Dick was set as if he had been petrified in front of a sort
of cairn, made of limestone, and covered with a cement of ice.

"This time," said the doctor, disengaging himself from the traces,
"it's really a cairn; we can't be mistaken."

"What does it matter to us?" said Hatteras.

"Why, if it is a cairn, it may inclose something that would be useful
to us--some provisions perhaps."

"As if Europeans had ever been here!" said Hatteras, shrugging his
shoulders.

"But if not Europeans, it may be that the Esquimaux have hidden some
product of their hunting here. They are accustomed to doing it, I
think."

"Well, look if you like, Clawbonny, but I don't think it is worth
your while."

Clawbonny and Bell, armed with their pickaxes made for the cairn.
Dick kept on barking furiously. The cairn was soon demolished, and
the doctor took out a damp paper. Hatteras took the document and read:

"Altam..., _Porpoise_, Dec... 13th, 1860,
12.. degrees long... 8.. degrees 35 minutes lat..."

"The _Porpoise_!" said the doctor.

"I don't know any ship of that name frequenting these seas," said
Hatteras.

"It is evident," continued the doctor, "that some sailors, or perhaps
some shipwrecked fellows, have passed here within the last two
months."

"That's certain," said Bell.

"What shall we do?" asked the doctor.

"Continue our route," said Hatteras coldly. "I don't know anything
about the _Porpoise_, but I do know that the _Forward_ is waiting
for our return."

CHAPTER XXXI

THE DEATH OF SIMPSON

The travellers went on their weary way, each thinking of the discovery
they had just made. Hatteras frowned with uneasiness.

"What can the _Porpoise_ be?" he asked himself. "Is it a ship? and
if so, what was it doing so near the Pole?"

At this thought he shivered, but not from the cold. The doctor and
Bell only thought of the result their discovery might have for others
or for themselves. But the difficulties and obstacles in their way
soon made them oblivious to everything but their own preservation.

Simpson's condition grew worse; the doctor saw that death was near.
He could do nothing, and was suffering cruelly on his own account
from a painful ophthalmia which might bring on blindness if neglected.
The twilight gave them enough light to hurt the eyes when reflected
by the snow; it wa