ardiness leads them here. But,
Doctor, did the expedition accomplish what it set out for?"

"Finding the coal?"

"Yes," answered Johnson.

The doctor shook his head sadly.

"None at all?" asked the old sailor.

"None; our supplies gave out, fatigue nearly conquered us. We did not
even reach the spot mentioned by Edward Belcher."

"So," continued Johnson, "you have no fuel?"

"No."

"Nor food?"

"No."

"And no boat with which to reach England?"

They were both silent; they needed all their courage to meet this
terrible situation.

"Well," resumed the boatswain, "there can be no doubts about our
condition! We know what we have to expect! But the first thing to do,
when the weather is so cold, is to build a snow-house."

"Yes," answered the doctor, "with Bell's aid that will be easy; then
we'll go after the sledge, we'll bring the American here, and then
we'll take counsel with Hatteras."

"Poor captain!" said Johnson, forgetting his own griefs; "he must
suffer terribly."

With these words they returned to their companions. Hatteras was
standing with folded arms, as usual, gazing silently into space. His
face wore its usual expression of firmness. Of what was this
remarkable man thinking? Of his desperate condition and shattered
hopes? Was he planning to return, since both men and the elements had
combined against his attempt?

No one could have read his thoughts, which his face in no way
expressed. His faithful Duke was with him, braving a temperature of
-32 degrees.

Bell lay motionless on the ice; his insensibility might cost him his
life; he was in danger of being frozen to death. Johnson shook him
violently, rubbed him with snow, and with some difficulty aroused him
from his torpor.

"Come, Bell, take courage!" he said; "don't lose heart; get up; we
have to talk matters over, and we need a shelter. Have you forgotten
how to make a snow-house? Come, help me, Bell! There's an iceberg we
can cut into! Come, to work! That will give us what we need, courage!"

Bell, aroused by these words, obeyed the old sailor.

"Meanwhile," Johnson went on, "the doctor will be good enough to go to
the sledge and bring it back with the dogs."

"I am ready," answered the doctor; "in an hour I shall be back."

"Shall you go too, Captain?" added Johnson, turning to Hatteras.

Although he was deep in thought, the captain heard the boatswain's
question, for he answered gently,--

"No, my friend, if the doctor