misfortune. Let us unite our
efforts for the common safety. There are four of us here, four
friends, and the life of one is of no more worth than the life of
another. Let each one give his opinion on what should be done."

"Ask us, Hatteras," answered the doctor; "we are all devoted to you,
our answers shall be sincere. And, in the first place, have you any
plan?"

"I can't have any alone," said Hatteras, sadly. "My opinion might seem
interested; I want to hear your opinion first."

"Captain," said Johnson, "before speaking on such weighty matters, I
have an important question to ask you."

"What is it?"

"You ascertained our position yesterday; well, has the ice-field
drifted any more, or are we in just the same place?"

"It has not stirred," answered Hatteras. "The latitude before we left
was 80 degrees 15 minutes, and longitude 97 degrees 35 minutes."

"And," said Johnson, "how far are we from the nearest sea to the
west?"

"About six hundred miles," answered Hatteras.

"And this water is--"

"Smith's Sound."

"The same which we could not cross last April?"

"The same."

"Well, Captain, now we know where we are, and we can make up our minds
accordingly."

"Speak, then," said Hatteras, letting his head sink into his hands.

In that way he could hear his friends without looking at them.

"Well, Bell," said the doctor, "what do you think is the best course
to follow?"

"It isn't necessary to reflect a long time," answered the carpenter;
"we ought to return, without wasting a day or an hour, either to the
south or the west, and reach the nearest coast, even if it took us two
months!"

"We have supplies for only three weeks," answered Hatteras, without
raising his head.

"Well," continued Johnson, "we must make that distance in three weeks,
since it's our only chance of safety; if we have to crawl on our knees
at the end, we must leave, and arrive in twenty-five days."

"This part of the northern continent is not known," answered Hatteras.
"We may meet obstacles, such as mountains and glaciers, which will
completely bar our progress."

"I don't consider that," answered the doctor, "a sufficient reason for
not attempting the journey; evidently, we shall suffer a great deal;
we ought to reduce our daily supply to the minimum, unless luck in
hunting--"

"There's only half a pound of powder left," answered Hatteras.

"Come, Hatteras," resumed the doctor, "I know the weight of all your
objectio