Part 2 (1/2)
”Never ain! Go on, Johnson”
”It was about the 24th or 25th of January, that they resolved to abandon the shi+p Their plan was to reach the west coast of Baffin's Bay, and from thence to eet to some of the Greenland settlements on the eastern side Provisions were abundant, and the sick men were so excited by the hope of return that they were alan their preparations for departure by e which they were to draw thes This was not ready till the 15th of February, and I was always hoping for your arrival, though I half dreaded it too, for you could have done nothing with the men, and they would have massacred you rather than remain on board I triedand reasoning with theers they would encounter, and also the cowardice of leaving you, but it was athem would listen to me
Shandon was impatient to be off, and fixed the 22nd of February for starting The sledge and the boat were packed as closely as possible with provisions and spirits, and heaps of wood, to obtain which they had hewed the brig down to her water-line The last day the men ran riot They completely sacked the shi+p, and in a drunken paroxysht and struggled against them, but they threw me down and assailed me with blows, and then the wretches, headed by Shandon, went off towards the east and were soon out of sight I foundshi+p, and what could I do? The fire-hole was cole drop of water! For two days the Forward struggled with the fla silence followed the glooth by Hatteras, who said--
”Johnson, I thank you; you did all you could to save ain I thank you, and now let the subject be dropped Let us unite efforts for our common salvation There are four of us, four companions, four friends, and all our lives are equally precious Let each give his opinion on the best course for us to pursue”
”You ask us then, Hatteras,” said the Doctor, ”we are all devoted to you, and our words come from our hearts But will you not state you own views first?”
”That would be little use,” said Hatteras, sadly; ”ht appear interested; let me hear all yours first”
”Captain,” said Johnson, ”before pronouncing on such an important matter, I wish to ask you a question”
”Ask it, then, Johnson”
”You went out yesterday to ascertain our exact position; well, is the field drifting or stationary?”
”Perfectly stationary It had notwas made I find we are just where ere before we left, in 80 15” lat and 97 35” long”
”And what distance are we from the nearest sea to the west?”
”About six hundred miles”
”And that sea is----?”
”Smith's Sound,” was the reply
”The sah last April?”
”The same”
”Well, captain, noe know our actual situation, we are in a better position to determine our course of action”
”Speak yourhis head in his hands
”What do you say, Bell?” asked the Doctor
”It strikesover,” said the carpenter ”We le day or even a single hour, either to the south or west, and make our way to the nearest coast, even if we are twoit!”
”We have only food for three weeks,” replied Hatteras, without raising his head
”Very well,” said Johnson, ”we must make the journey in three weeks, since it is our last chance Even if we can only crawl on our knees before we get to our destination, we must be there in twenty-five days”
”This part of the Arctic Continent is unexplored We laciers ress,” objected Hatteras
”I don't see that's any sufficient reason for not attes, no doubt, and perhaps many