"If what you say is true, it is very serious." "Yes, it is, because of the wintering. What shall we do without coal in a country where even the thermometer freezes?" "But, if I am not mistaken, the captain counts upon renewing his stock of coal at Beechey Island. It appears there is a large provision there." "And suppose we can't reach Beechey Island, what will become of us then?" "You are right, Shandon; Hatteras seems to me very imprudent; but why don't you expostulate with him on the subject?" "No," said Shandon, with ill-concealed bitterness, "I won't say a word. It is nothing to do with me now. I shall wait to see what turns up; I shall obey orders, and not give my opinion where it isn't wanted." "Allow me to tell you that you are in the wrong, Shandon; you have as much interest in setting yourself against the captain's imprudence as we have." "He wouldn't listen to me if I were to speak; do you think he would?" Wall dared not answer in the affirmative, and he added-- "But perhaps he would listen to the crew." "The crew!" answered Shandon, shrugging his shoulders; "you don't know the crew. The men know they are nearing the 72nd parallel, and that they will earn a thousand pounds for every degree above that." "The captain knew what he was doing when he offered them that." "Of course he did, and for the present he can do what he likes with them." "What do you mean?" "I mean that while they have nothing to do, and there is an open sea, they will go on right enough; but wait till difficulty and danger come, and you will see how much they'll think about the money!" "Then you don't think Hatteras will succeed?" "No, he will not; to succeed in such an enterprise there must be a good understanding between him and his officers, and that does not exist. Hatteras is a madman; all his past career proves it. Well, we shall see; perhaps circumstances will force them to give the command to a less adventurous captain." "Still," said Wall, shaking his head, "he will always have on his side----" "Dr. Clawbonny, a man who only cares for science, and Johnson, a sailor who only cares to obey, and perhaps two more men like Bell, the carpenter; four at the most, and we are eighteen on board! No, Wall, Hatteras has not got the confidence of his men, and he knows it, so he bribes them; he profited cleverly by the Franklin affair, but that won't last, I tell you, and if he doesn't reach Beechey Island he's a lost man!" "Suppose the crew should take it into its head----" "Don't tell the crew what I think," answered Shandon quickly; "the men will soon see for themselves. Besides, just now we must go north. Who knows if Hatteras won't find that way will bring us back sooner? At the end of McClintock Channel lies Melville Bay, and from thence go the straits that lead to Baffin's Bay. Hatteras must take care! The way to the east is easier than the road to the north!"