ographical fact bitterly stirred up John Hatteras. A brig, the
_Advance_, manned by seventeen men, equipped by a merchant named
Grinnell, under the command of Dr. Kane, and sent in search of Sir
John Franklin, advanced in 1853 through Baffin's Sea and Smith's
Strait, beyond the eighty-second degree of boreal latitude, much
nearer the Pole than any of his predecessors. Now, this vessel was
American, Grinnell was American, and Kane was American. The
Englishman's disdain for the Yankee will be easily understood; in
the heart of Hatteras it changed to hatred; he was resolved to outdo
his audacious competitor and reach the Pole itself.

For two years he had been living incognito in Liverpool, passing
himself off as a sailor; he recognised in Richard Shandon the man
he wanted; he sent him an offer by an anonymous letter, and one to
Dr. Clawbonny at the same time. The _Forward_ was built, armed, and
equipped. Hatteras took great care to conceal his name, for had it
been known he would not have found a single man to accompany him.
He was determined not to take the command of the brig except in a
moment of danger, and when his crew had gone too far to draw back.
He had in reserve, as we have seen, such offers of money to make to
the men that not one of them would refuse to follow him to the other
end of the world; and, in fact, it was right to the other end of the
world that he meant to go. Circumstances had become critical, and
John Hatteras had made himself known. His dog, the faithful Dick,
the companion of his voyages, was the first to recognise him. Luckily
for the brave and unfortunately for the timid, it was well and duly
established that John Hatteras was the captain of the _Forward_.

CHAPTER XIII

THE PROJECTS OF HATTERAS

The appearance of this bold personage was appreciated in different
ways by the crew; part of them completely rallied round him, either
from love of money or daring; others submitted because they could
not help themselves, reserving their right to protest later on;
besides, resistance to such a man seemed, for the present, difficult.
Each man went back to his post. The 20th of May fell on a Sunday,
and was consequently a day of rest for the crew. A council was held
by the captain, composed of the officers, Shandon, Wall, Johnson,
and the doctor.

"Gentlemen," said the captain in that voice at the same time soft
and imperious which characterised him, "you are aware that I intend
to go as