g 70 degrees, and the shark the same in a medium a
degree and a half cooler; insects appear to have the temperature of
the water and the air."

"That is all very well," said Hatteras, who had not yet spoken, "and
I'm much obliged to the doctor for his information; but we are talking
as if we had to endure torrid heats. Would it not be wiser to talk
about the cold, to know to what we are exposed, and what is the lowest
temperature that has ever been observed?"

"True," added Johnson.

"There's nothing easier," continued the doctor, "and I may be able to
give you some information."

"I dare say," said Johnson; "you know everything."

"My friends, I only know what others have taught me, and when I've
finished you'll know exactly as much. This is what I know about cold
and the lowest temperatures observed in Europe. A great many
noteworthy winters have been known, and it seems as if the severest
has a periodic return about every forty-one years,--a period which
nearly corresponds with the greater appearance of spots on the sun. I
can mention the winter of 1364, when the Rhone was frozen as far as
Arles; that of 1408, when the Danube was frozen its whole length, and
when wolves ran over to Jutland without wetting their feet; that of
1509, during which the Mediterranean at Cette and Marseilles and the
Adriatic at Venice were frozen, and the Baltic as late as April 10;
that of 1608, which killed all the cattle in England; that of 1789,
when the Thames was frozen--as far as Gravesend, six leagues--below
London; that of 1813, of which the French retain such a terrible
memory; and that of 1829, the earliest and longest winter of this
century. So much for Europe."

"But what temperature has been reached above the Arctic Circle?" asked
Altamont.

"Really," said the doctor, "I believe we have experienced the greatest
cold that has ever been observed, since our spirit thermometer
indicated one day -72 degrees; and if I remember aright, the lowest
temperatures ever observed before were only -61 degrees at Melville
Island, -65 degrees at Port Felix, and -70 degrees at Fort Reliance."

"Yes," said Hatteras; "we were delayed, and unfortunately too, by a
very severe winter!"

"You were delayed?" exclaimed Altamont, staring at the captain.

"In our journey westward," interposed the doctor, hastily.

"So," said Altamont, continuing the conversation, "the maximum and
minimum temperatures endured by men vary about two hundred de