answered the doctor, "or he suspects Hatteras's
plans."

"Do you think that the stranger has the same plans?"

"Who can tell? The Americans are bold; an American may well try what
an Englishman tries!"

"You think that Altamont--"

"I don't think anything about it," answered the doctor; "but the
situation of this ship on the way to the Pole gives one material for
thought."

"But Altamont said he had drifted there."

"He said so! Yes, but he was smiling in a very strange way."

"The devil, Dr. Clawbonny; it would be unfortunate if there should be
any rivalry between two such men."

"Heaven grant that I may be mistaken, Johnson, for this misfortune
might produce serious complications, if not some catastrophe."

"I hope Altamont will not forget that we saved his life."

"But isn't he going to save us? I confess that without us he would not
be alive; but what would become of us without him, without his ship,
without its resources?"

"Well, Doctor, you are here, and I hope with your aid all will go
well."

"I hope so, Johnson."

The voyage went on without incident; there was no lack of bear's
flesh, and they made copious meals of it; there was a certain
good-humor in the little band, thanks to the jests of the doctor and
his pleasant philosophy; this worthy man always had some scrap of
information to give to his companions. His health continued good; he
had not grown very thin, in spite of his fatigues and privations; his
friends at Liverpool would have recognized him without difficulty;
especially would they have recognized his unaltered good-humor.

[Illustration]

During the morning of Saturday the appearance of the plain of ice
changed materially; the perturbed fragments, the frequent packs, the
hummocks, showed that the ice-field was enduring some severe pressure;
evidently some unknown continent, some new island, might have caused
this by narrowing the passes. Blocks of fresh water, more frequent and
larger, indicated the coast to be near. Hence, there was near them a
new land, and the doctor yearned with a desire to add to the charts of
the northern regions. Great is the pleasure of ascertaining the line
of these unknown coasts, and of tracing it with a pencil; that was the
doctor's aim, while that of Hatteras was merely to place his foot upon
the Pole, and he took pleasure in advance in thinking of the names he
was going to give to the seas, straits, bays, and slightest
promontories in these new