"Yes," answered Altamont, "but by going four hundred and seventy miles
over the ice."

"Well, what difference does that make?"

"The whole," answered the American. "Did MacClure's ship make the
passage?"

"No," answered the doctor, "for after a fourth winter, MacClure was
obliged to leave it in the ice."

"Well, in a sea-voyage it's important to have the ship reach her
destination. If the Northwest Passage ever becomes practicable, it
must be for ships and not for sledges. The ship must accomplish the
voyage, or if not the ship, the launch."

"The launch!" shouted Hatteras, who detected the hidden meaning in the
American's words.

"Altamont," said the doctor, hurriedly, "you make a puerile
distinction, and we all consider you wrong."

"That is easy, gentlemen," answered the American; "you are four to
one. But that won't keep me from holding my own opinion."

"Keep it," said Hatteras, "and so closely that we need hear nothing
about it."

"And what right have you to speak to me in that way?" asked the
American in a rage.

"My right as captain," answered Hatteras.

"Am I under your commands?" retorted Altamont.

"Without doubt, and look out for yourself, if--"

The doctor, Johnson, and Bell intervened. It was time; the two enemies
were gazing at one another. The doctor was very anxious. Still, after
a few gentler words, Altamont went off to bed whistling "Yankee
Doodle," and, whether he slept or not, he did not speak. Hatteras went
out and paced up and down for an hour, and then he turned in without
saying a word.

[Illustration: "The doctor, Johnson, and Bell intervened. It was time;
the two enemies were gazing at one another."]

CHAPTER XVI.
NORTHERN ARCADIA.

On May 29th, for the first time, the sun did not set; it merely
touched the horizon and then rose at once; the day was twenty-four
hours long. The next day it was surrounded by a magnificent halo, a
bright circle with all the colors of the prism; this apparition, which
was by no means rare, always attracted the doctor's attention; he
never failed to note the date and appearance of the phenomenon; the
one he saw on that day was of an elliptic shape, which he had seldom
seen before.

Soon the noisy flocks of birds appeared; bustards and wild geese came
from Florida or Arkansas, flying northward with inconceivable rapidity
and bringing the spring with them. The doctor shot a few, as well as
three or four cranes and a single stork. Ho