g the brig," replied the doctor; "if
we were not able to perceive an intruder slip on board, how could
_he_ have discovered the _Forward_ in the midst of a fog?"

"That is evident," exclaimed Johnson.

"I come back, then," said the doctor, "to my first hypothesis. What
do you think about it, Shandon?"

"I think what you please," replied Shandon fiercely, "with the
exception of supposing that this man is on board my vessel."

"Perhaps," added Wall, "there may be amongst the crew a man of his
who has received instructions from him."

"That's very likely," added the doctor.

"But which man?" asked Shandon. "I tell you I have known all my men
a long time."

"Anyhow," replied Johnson, "if this captain shows himself, let him
be man or devil, we'll receive him; but we have another piece of
information to draw from this letter."

"What's that?" asked Shandon.

"Why, that we are to direct our path not only towards Melville Bay,
but again into Smith's Straits."

"You are right," answered the doctor.

"Smith's Straits?" echoed Shandon mechanically.

"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