e on fire
suggested a thought to Hatteras.

[Illustration: "The fog, without lifting, was very bright."]

"The volcano!" he cried.

"Is it possible?" asked Bell.

"No, no!" answered the doctor; "we should be smothered if the flames
were to reach us."

"Perhaps it is its reflection in the fog," said Altamont.

"No. We should have to admit that we were near land, and in that case
we should hear the eruption."

"But then?" asked the captain.

"It is a phenomenon," said the doctor, "which has been seldom observed
hitherto. If we go on we cannot help leaving this luminous sphere and
re-entering storm and darkness."

"Whatever it is, push on!" said Hatteras.

"Forward!" cried his companions, who did not wish to delay even for
breathing-time in this quiet spot. The bright sail hung down the
glistening mast; the oars dipped into the glowing waves, and appeared
to drip with sparks. Hatteras, compass in hand, turned the boat's head
to the north; gradually the mist lost its brightness and transparency;
the wind could be heard roaring a short distance off; and soon the
launch, lying over before a strong gust, re-entered the zone of
storms. Fortunately, the hurricane had shifted a point towards the
south, and the launch was able to run before the wind, straight for
the Pole, running the risk of foundering, but sailing very fast; a
rock, reef, or piece of ice might at any moment rise before them, and
crush them to atoms. Still, no one of these men raised a single
objection, nor suggested prudence. They were seized with the madness
of danger. Thirst for the unknown took possession of them. They were
going along, not blinded, but blindly, finding their speed only too
slow for their impatience. Hatteras held the tiller firm amid the
waves lashed into foam by the tempest. Still the proximity of land
became evident. Strange signs filled the air. Suddenly the mist parted
like a curtain torn by the wind, and for a moment, brief as a flash of
lightning, a great burst of flame could be seen rising towards the
sky.

"The volcano! the volcano!" was the cry which escaped from the lips of
all; but the strange vision disappeared at once; the wind shifted to
the southeast, took the launch on her quarter, and drove her from this
unapproachable land.

"Malediction!" said Hatteras, shifting her sail; "we were not three
miles from land!"

Hatteras could not resist the force of the tempest; but without
yielding to it, he brought the b