ns, and I don't nourish any vain hopes. But I think I can read
your thoughts; have you any practicable plan?"

"No," answered the captain, after a few moments' hesitation.

"You do not doubt our courage," continued the doctor; "we are willing
to follow you to the last, you know very well; but should we not now
abandon all hope of reaching the Pole? Mutiny has overthrown your
plans; you fought successfully against natural obstacles, but not
against the weakness and perfidy of men; you have done all that was
humanly possible, and I am sure you would have succeeded; but, in the
present condition of affairs, are you not compelled to give up your
project, and in order to take it up again, should you not try to reach
England without delay?"

"Well, Captain?" asked Johnson, when Hatteras had remained a long time
silent.

At last the captain raised his head, and said in a constrained tone,--

"Do you think you are sure of reaching the shore of the sound, tired
as you are, and almost without food?"

"No," answered the doctor; "but it's sure the shore won't come to us;
we must go to it. Perhaps we shall find to the south tribes of
Esquimaux who may aid us."

"Besides," added Johnson, "may we not find in the sound some ship that
has been forced to winter there."

"And if need be," continued the doctor, "when we've reached the sound,
may we not cross it, and reach the west coast of Greenland, and then,
either by Prudhoe's Land, or Cape York, get to some Danish settlement?
Nothing of that sort is to be found on the ice-field. The way to
England is down there to the south, and not here to the north!"

"Yes," said Bell, "Dr. Clawbonny is right; we must go, and go at once.
Hitherto we have forgotten home too much, and those who are dear to
us."

"Do you agree, Johnson?" Hatteras asked again.

"Yes, Captain."

"And you, Doctor?"

"Yes, Hatteras."

Hatteras still remained silent; in spite of all he could do, his face
expressed his agitation. His whole life depended on the decision he
should take; if he should return, it was all over with his bold plans;
he could not hope to make the attempt a fourth time.

The doctor, seeing the captain was silent, again spoke.

"I ought to add, Hatteras," he said, "that we ought not to lose an
instant; we ought to load the sledge with all our provisions, and take
as much wood as possible. A journey of six hundred miles under such
circumstances is long, I confess, but not insuperable