water-hole; the thick layer of ice was shaken
by the rising of the sea, and sinister crackings announced the
submarine struggle; happily the ship kept firm in her bed, and her
chains only were disturbed. Hatteras had had them fastened in
anticipation of the event. The following days were still colder; there
was a penetrating fog, and the wind scattered the piled-up snow; it
became difficult to see whether the whirlwinds began in the air or
on the ice-fields; confusion reigned.

The crew were occupied in different works on board, the principal
of which consisted in preparing the grease and oil produced by the
seals; they had become blocks of ice, which had to be broken with
axes into little bits, and ten barrels were thus preserved.

All sorts of vessels were useless, and the liquid they contained would
only have broken them when the temperature changed. On the 28th the
thermometer went down to 32 degrees below zero; there was only coal
enough left for ten days, and everyone looked forward to its
disappearance with dread. Hatteras had the poop stove put out for
economy's sake, and from that time Shandon, the doctor, and he stayed
in the common room. Hatteras was thus brought into closer contact
with the men, who threw ferocious and stupefied looks at him. He heard
their reproaches, their recriminations, and even their threats, and
he could not punish them. But he seemed to be deaf to everything.
He did not claim the place nearest the fire, but stopped in a corner,
his arms folded, never speaking.

In spite of the doctor's recommendations, Pen and his friends refused
to take the least exercise; they passed whole days leaning against
the stove or lying under the blankets of their hammocks. Their health
soon began to suffer; they could not bear up against the fatal
influence of the climate, and the terrible scurvy made its appearance
on board. The doctor had, however, begun, some time ago, to distribute
limejuice and lime pastilles every morning; but these preservatives,
generally so efficacious, had very little effect on the malady, which
soon presented the most horrible symptoms. The sight of the poor
fellows, whose nerves and muscles contracted with pain, was pitiable.
Their legs swelled in an extraordinary fashion, and were covered with
large blackish blue spots; their bloody gums and ulcerated lips only
gave passage to inarticulate sounds; the vitiated blood no longer
went to the extremities.

Clifton was the fir