Hatteras full well understood how his rival felt, but would rather have died than have begged his intervention. However, he had hardly time to think about it, before Altamont was at his side. He could not have held out much longer, for it was impossible to ward off the blows of horns and hoofs of two such powerful antagonists, and in a few minutes more he must have been torn to pieces. But suddenly two shots resounded, and Hatteras felt the balls graze his head. [Ilustration: Dealt him such a tremendous blow on the head with his hatchet, that the skull was completely split open.--P.177] "Courage!" shouted Altamont, flinging away his discharged weapon, and throwing himself right in front of the raging animals. One of them, shot to the heart, fell dead as he reached the spot, while the other dashed madly on Hatteras, and was about to gore the unfortunate captain with his horns, when Altamont plunged his snow knife far into the beast's wide open jaws with one hand, with the other dealt him such a tremendous blow on the head with his hatchet, that the skull was completely split open. It was done so quickly that it seemed like a flash of lightning, and all was over. The second ox lay dead, and Clawbonny shouted "Hurrah! hurrah!" Hatteras was saved. He owed his life to the man he hated the most. What a storm of conflicting passions this must have roused in his soul! But where was the emotion he could not master? However, his action was prompt, whatever his feeling might be. Without a moment's hesitancy, he went up to his rival, and said in a grave voice-- "Altamont, you have saved my life!" "You saved mine," replied the American. There was a moment's silence, and then Altamont added-- "We're quits, Hatteras." "No, Altamont," said the captain; "when the Doctor dragged you out of your icy tomb, I did not know who you were; but you saved me at the peril of your own life, knowing quite well who I was." "Why, you are a fellow-creature at any rate, and whatever faults an American may have, he is no coward." "No, indeed," said the Doctor. "He is a man, every inch as much as yourself, Hatteras." "And like me, he shall have part in the glory that awaits us." "The glory of reaching the North Pole?" asked Altamont. "Yes," replied Hatteras, proudly. "I guessed right, then," said Altamont. "And you have actually dared to conceive such a project? Oh! it is grand; I tell you it is sublime even to think of it?" "But tell me," said Hatteras in a hurried manner; "you were not bound for the Pole then yourself?" Altamont hesitated. "Come, speak out, man," urged the Doctor. "Well, to tell the truth, I was not, and the truth is better than self-love. No, I had no such grand purpose in view. I was trying to clear the North-West Passage, and that was all." "Altamont," said Hatteras, holding out his hand; "be our companion to glory, come with us and find the North Pole."