"Perhaps it is one of the sailors who has been commissioned by him," suggested Wall.
"That may be," said the Doctor.
"But which of them?" asked Shandon. "I tell you, all the men have been personally known to me this long time."
"At any rate, the captain will be welcome whenever he chooses to come, be he man or fiend," said Johnson. "But there is one piece of information in the letter at all events. We are not only going to Melville Bay but to Smith's Straits."
"Smith's Straits," repeated Shandon, mechanically.
"It is evident," continued Johnson, "that the object of the Forward is not to seek the North-West passage, since we must leave Lancaster Sound, the only entrance to it, on the left. This supposes very difficult navigation for us in unknown seas."
"Yes," said Shandon, "Smith's Sound was the course taken by the American Dr. Kane in 1853; and what dangers he encountered! He was given up for lost for a long time. However, if we are to go, we go. But where? To the Pole?"
"Why not?" asked the Doctor.
Johnson shrugged his shoulders at the bare possibility of such a mad attempt.
"Well, then," said Wall, "to come back to the captain; if he exists, I hardly see any place in Greenland where he can be waiting for us except Disko, or Upernavik, so in a few days at most we shall know better how the case stands."
"But, Shandon," asked the Doctor, "are you not going to tell the men about this letter?"
"With your leave, sir," said Johnson, addressing Shandon, "I say not."
"And why not?"
"Because anything so unheard-of and so mysterious disspirits the men. They are very uneasy as it is about the issue of this strange expedition, but if anything supernatural should occur, it might have the worst possible effect on them, and we could never rely on them when most wanted."
"What is your opinion, Doctor?" asked Shandon.
"Johnson's reasoning seems convincing, I think," was the reply.
"And what say you, James?"
