nedy, Kane, and McClintock, and I remember something
of what I've read. I can tell you, too, that this same McClintock,
on board the _Fox_, a screw brig in the style of ours, went easier
to his destination than any of the men who preceded him."

"That's perfectly true," answered Shandon; "he was a bold sailor was
McClintock; I saw him at work. You may add that, like him, we shall
find ourselves in Davis's Straits in April, and if we succeed in
passing the ice our voyage will be considerably advanced."

"Unless," added the doctor, "it happens to us like it did to the _Fox_
in 1857, to be caught the very first year by the ice in Baffin's Sea,
and have to winter in the midst of the icebergs."

"We must hope for better luck," answered Johnson. "If a ship like
the _Forward_ can't take us where we want to go, we must renounce
all hope for ever."

"Besides," said the doctor, "if the captain is on board he will know
better than we do what must be done. We know nothing as yet; his letter
says nothing about what our voyage is for."

"It is a good deal to know which way to go," answered Shandon quickly.
"We can do without the captain and his instructions for another month
at least. Besides, you know what I think about it."

"A short time ago," said the doctor, "I thought like you that the
captain would never appear, and that you would remain commander of
the ship; but now----"

"Now what?" replied Shandon in an impatient tone.

"Since the arrival of the second letter I have modified that opinion."

"Why, doctor?"

"Because the letter tells you the route to follow, but leaves you
ignorant of the _Forward's_ destination; and we must know where we
are going to. How the deuce are you to get a letter now we are out
at sea? On the coast of Greenland the service of the post must leave
much to wish for. I believe that our gentleman is waiting for us in
some Danish settlement--at Holsteinborg or Uppernawik; he has
evidently gone there to complete his cargo of sealskins, buy his
sledges and dog, and, in short, get together all the tackle wanted
for a voyage in the Arctic Seas. I shouldn't be at all surprised to
see him come out of his cabin one of these fine mornings and begin
commanding the ship in anything but a supernatural way."

"It's possible," answered Shandon drily; "but in the meantime the
wind is getting up, and I can't risk my gallant sails in such weather."

Shandon left the doctor and gave the order to reef the to