"It is evident," replied Johnson, "that the destination of the _Forward_ is not to seek a North-West passage, as we shall leave to our left the only track that leads to it--that is to say, Lancaster Straits; that's what forebodes us difficult navigation in unknown seas." "Yes, Smith's Straits," replied Shandon, "that's the route the American Kane followed in 1853, and at the price of what dangers! For a long time he was thought to be lost in those dreadful latitudes! However, as we must go, go we must. But where? how far? To the Pole?" "And why not?" cried the doctor. The idea of such an insane attempt made the boatswain shrug his shoulders. "After all," resumed James Wall, "to come back to the captain, if he exists, I see nowhere on the coast of Greenland except Disko or Uppernawik where he can be waiting for us; in a few days we shall know what we may depend upon." "But," asked the doctor of Shandon, "aren't you going to make known the contents of that letter to the crew?" "With the commander's permission," replied Johnson, "I should do nothing of the kind." "And why so?" asked Shandon. "Because all that mystery tends to discourage the men: they are already very anxious about the fate of our expedition, and if the supernatural side of it is increased it may produce very serious results, and in a critical moment we could not rely upon them. What do you say about it, commander?" "And you, doctor--what do you think?" asked Shandon. "I think Johnson's reasoning is just." "And you, Wall?" "Unless there's better advice forthcoming, I shall stick to the opinion of these gentlemen." Shandon reflected seriously during a few minutes, and read the letter over again carefully. "Gentlemen," said he, "your opinion on this subject is certainly excellent, but I cannot adopt it." "Why not, Shandon?" asked the doctor. "Because the instructions of this letter are formal: they command me to give the captain's congratulations to the crew, and up till to-day I have always blindly obeyed his orders in whatever manner they have been transmitted to me, and I cannot----" "But----" said Johnson, who rightly dreaded the effect of such a communication upon the minds of the sailors. "My dear Johnson," answered Shandon, "your reasons are excellent, but read--'he begs you to give evidence of his gratitude to the crew.'" "Act as you think best," replied Johnson, who was besides a very strict observer of discipline. "Are we to muster the crew on deck?" "Do so," replied Shandon.