"Take courage, my poor fellow!" answered the doctor, with pity in his tone, and he answered Simpson's complaints by incessant attention. Though half-dead with fatigue, he employed a part of the night in making the sick man a soothing draught, and rubbed him with lime-juice. Unfortunately it had little effect, and did not prevent the terrible malady spreading. The next day they were obliged to lift the poor fellow on to the sledge, although he begged and prayed them to leave him to die in peace, and begin their painful march again. The freezing mists wet the three men to the skin; the snow and sleet beat in their faces; they did the work of beasts of burden, and had not even sufficient food. Dick ran hither and thither, discovering by instinct the best route to follow. During the morning of the 23rd of January, when it was nearly dark, for the new moon had not yet made her appearance, Dick ran on first; he was lost to sight for several hours. Hatteras became anxious, as there were many bear-marks on the ground; he was considering what had better be done, when a loud barking was heard in front. The little procession moved on quicker, and soon came upon the faithful animal in the depth of a ravine. Dick was set as if he had been petrified in front of a sort of cairn, made of limestone, and covered with a cement of ice. "This time," said the doctor, disengaging himself from the traces, "it's really a cairn; we can't be mistaken." "What does it matter to us?" said Hatteras. "Why, if it is a cairn, it may inclose something that would be useful to us--some provisions perhaps." "As if Europeans had ever been here!" said Hatteras, shrugging his shoulders. "But if not Europeans, it may be that the Esquimaux have hidden some product of their hunting here. They are accustomed to doing it, I think." "Well, look if you like, Clawbonny, but I don't think it is worth your while." Clawbonny and Bell, armed with their pickaxes made for the cairn. Dick kept on barking furiously. The cairn was soon demolished, and the doctor took out a damp paper. Hatteras took the document and read: "Altam..., _Porpoise_, Dec... 13th, 1860, 12.. degrees long... 8.. degrees 35 minutes lat..." "The _Porpoise_!" said the doctor. "I don't know any ship of that name frequenting these seas," said Hatteras. "It is evident," continued the doctor, "that some sailors, or perhaps some shipwrecked fellows, have passed here within the last two months." "That's certain," said Bell. "What shall we do?" asked the doctor. "Continue our route," said Hatteras coldly. "I don't know anything about the _Porpoise_, but I do know that the _Forward_ is waiting for our return." CHAPTER XXXI THE DEATH OF SIMPSON The travellers went on their weary way, each thinking of the discovery they had just made. Hatteras frowned with uneasiness. "What can the _Porpoise_ be?" he asked himself. "Is it a ship? and if so, what was it doing so near the Pole?"