t, a little chocolate, some brandy, and about two pounds of
coffee, picked up berry by berry on the ice.

No coverings, no hammocks, no clothing, were found; evidently the fire
had destroyed all. In short, the doctor and boatswain had found
supplies for three weeks at the outside, and with the strictest
economy; that was not much for them in their state of exhaustion. So,
in consequence of these disasters, Hatteras found himself not only
without any coal, but also short of provisions.

As to the fuel supplied by the fragments of the ship, the pieces of
the masts and the keel, they might hold out about three weeks; but
then the doctor, before using it to heat their new dwelling, asked
Johnson whether out of it they might not build a new ship, or at least
a launch.

"No, Doctor," answered the boatswain, "it's impossible; there's not a
piece of wood large enough; it's good for nothing except to keep us
warm for a few days and then--"

"Then?" asked the doctor.

"God alone knows," answered the sailor.

Having made out their list, the doctor and Johnson went after the
sledge; they harnessed the tired dogs, returned to the scene of the
explosion, packed up the few precious objects they had found, and
carried them to their new house; then, half frozen, they took their
place near their companions in misfortune.

[Illustration: "They harnessed the tired dogs."]

CHAPTER II.
ALTAMONT'S FIRST WORDS.

Towards eight o'clock in the evening the snow-clouds cleared away for
a few minutes; the constellations shone brilliantly in the clear air.
Hatteras made use of this change to get the altitude of some stars; he
went out without saying a word, carrying his instruments with him. He
wished to ascertain his position and see if the ice-field had not been
drifting again. After an absence of half an hour he came back, lay
down in a corner, and remained perfectly still, although not asleep.

The next day snow began to fall heavily; the doctor could not help
being glad that he had made his examination the day before, for a
white curtain soon covered the whole expanse, and every trace of the
explosion was hidden under three feet of snow.

On that day they could not set foot outside; fortunately their
quarters were comfortable, or at least seemed so to the exhausted
travellers. The little stove worked well, except occasionally when
violent gusts drove the smoke into the room; with its heat they could
make coffee and tea, w