Bell,
and Simpson; these were all devoted to him body and soul. Among the
uncertain were Foker, Bolton, Wolston, the gunner, Brunton, the first
engineer, who might at any moment declare against him. As to the
others, Pen, Gripper, Clifton, and Warren, they openly meditated
mutiny; they wanted to bring their companions over and compel the
_Forward_ to return to England.

Hatteras soon saw that he could get no more work from his dispirited
crew, who now were worn out with fatigue from their hard work. For
twenty-four hours they remained in sight of Baring Island without
getting a foot forward. Still the weather grew colder, and in these
high latitudes even July felt the influence of the approaching winter.
The 24th, the thermometer fell to 22 degrees. The young ice formed
during the night to a depth of about half an inch; if snow should fall
on it, it would soon be strong enough to bear the weight of a man. The
sea soon acquired the turbid tint which indicates the formation of the
first crystals.

Hatteras read aright these alarming signs; if the passes should close,
he would be obliged to winter here, far from the aim of his voyage,
and without even having seen that open sea which he must have got very
near, according to the accounts of his predecessors. Hence he resolved
to get on at any price a few degrees farther north; seeing that he
could neither try rowing with his crew exhausted, nor going under sail
with the wind always unfavorable, he ordered the fires to be lighted.

CHAPTER XXII.
THE FIRST SIGNS OF MUTINY.

At this unexpected command, the surprise on board of the _Forward_ was
very great.

"Light the fires!" said some.

"With what?" said others.

"When we have only two months' supply in the hold!" cried Pen.

"And how are we to keep warm in the winter?" asked Clifton.

"We shall have to burn the ship down to the water-line, I suppose,"
said Gripper.

"And cram all the masts into the stove," answered Warren, "from the
foretopmast to the jib-boom."

Shandon gazed intently at Wall. The surprised engineers hesitated to
go down into the engine-room.

"Did you hear what I said?" shouted the captain, angrily.

Brunton walked toward the hatchway; but he stopped before going down.

"Don't go, Brunton," some one said.

"Who spoke then?" shouted Hatteras.

"I did," said Pen, approaching the captain.

"And what is it you're saying?" asked the captain.

"I say--I say," answered Pen with ma