bing. At that moment, Altamont, Johnson, and Bell joined him;
Hatteras appeared to awaken from his revery.

[Illustration: "Hatteras appeared to wake from his revery."]

"My friends," he said with emotion, "thanks for your courage, thanks
for your perseverance, thanks for your superhuman efforts, which have
allowed us to set foot on this land!"

"Captain!" said Johnson, "we have only obeyed; all the honor is due to
you alone!"

"No, no!" resumed Hatteras with emotion; "to you as much as to me! to
Altamont as well as to all of us! as to the doctor himself-- O, let my
heart well over in your hands! It can no longer restrain its joy and
gratitude!"

Hatteras clasped the hands of his companions. He walked to and fro, no
longer master of himself.

"We have only done our duty as Englishmen," said Bell.

"Our duty as friends," continued the doctor.

"Yes," said Hatteras, "but all have not performed this duty. Some have
given way! Still, they must be pardoned, both who were treacherous,
and those who were led away to it! Poor men! I forgive them. You
understand me, Doctor?"

"Yes," answered the doctor, who was very uneasy at Hatteras's
excitement.

"So," went on the captain, "I don't want them to lose the money they
came so far to seek. No, I shall not alter my plan; they shall be
rich,--if they ever see England again!"

Few could have withstood the tenderness with which Hatteras spoke
these last words.

"But, Captain," said Johnson, with an effort at pleasantry, "one would
say you were making your will."

"Perhaps I am," answered Hatteras, seriously.

"Still you have before you a long and glorious life," continued the
old sailor.

"Who can say?" said Hatteras.

A long silence followed these words. The doctor did not dare to try to
interpret the last remark. But Hatteras soon expressed his meaning,
for in a hasty, hardly restrained voice, he went on:--

"My friends, listen to me. We have done a good deal so far, and yet
there is a good deal to do."

His companions gazed at him in astonishment.

"Yes, we are on the land of the Pole, but we are not on the Pole
itself!"

"How so?" asked Altamont.

"You don't mean it!" cried the doctor, anxiously.

"Yes!" resumed Hatteras, earnestly, "I said that an Englishman should
set foot on the Pole; I said it, and an Englishman shall do it."

"What!" ejaculated the doctor.

"We are now forty-five seconds from the unknown point," Hatteras went
on, with increas