is willing to go alone. We must form
some plan of action, and I want to be alone to think matters over. Go.
Do what you think right for the present. I will be thinking of the
future."

Johnson turned to the doctor.

"It's singular," he said; "the captain seems to have forgotten his
anger; his voice never was so gentle before."

"Well!" answered the doctor; "he has recovered his presence of mind.
Mark my words, Johnson, that man will be able to save us!"

Thereupon the doctor wrapped himself up as well as he could, and,
staff in hand, walked away towards the sledge in the midst of a fog
which the moonlight made almost bright. Johnson and Bell set to work
immediately; the old sailor encouraged the carpenter, who wrought on
in silence; they did not need to build, but to dig into the solid ice;
to be sure it was frozen very hard, and so rendered the task
difficult, but it was thereby additionally secure; soon Johnson and
Bell could work comfortably in the orifice, throwing outside all that
they took from the solid mass.

[Illustration]

From time to time Hatteras would walk fitfully, stopping suddenly
every now and then; evidently he did not wish to reach the spot where
his brig had been. As he had promised, the doctor was soon back; he
brought with him Altamont, lying on the sledge beneath all the
coverings; the Greenland dogs, thin, tired, and half starved, could
hardly drag the sledge, and were gnawing at their harness; it was high
time that men and beasts should take some rest.

While they were digging the house, the doctor happened to stumble upon
a small stove which had not been injured by the explosion, and with a
piece of chimney that could be easily repaired: the doctor carried it
away in triumph. At the end of three hours the house was inhabitable;
the stove was set in and filled with pieces of wood; it was soon
roaring and giving out a comfortable warmth.

The American was brought in and covered up carefully; the four
Englishmen sat about the fire. The last supplies of the sledge, a
little biscuit and some hot tea, gave them some comfort. Hatteras did
not speak; every one respected his silence. When the meal was finished
the doctor made a sign for Johnson to follow him outside.

"Now," he said, "we are going to make an inventory of what is left. We
must know exactly what things we have; they are scattered all about;
we must pick them up; it may snow at any moment, and then it would be
impossible to fi