"I incline to Johnson, sir."
After a few moments' reflection, Shandon read the letter carefully again, and then said:
"Your opinion is very sensible, but excuse me, gentlemen, I cannot adopt it."
"Why not, Shandon?"
"Because my instructions are plain and precise. I am told to convey a message from the captain to the crew. All I have to do is to obey orders, however they may have come to me, and I cannot———"
"But, sir," interrupted Johnson, mainly concerned at the disastrous effect of any such communication on the sailors.
"My good fellow," said Shandon, "I can understand your opposition, but I put it to yourself, whether I have any option in the matter. Read the letter. 'He begs you to convey his thanks to the crew.'"
"Well, then," said Johnson, when his love of discipline was thus appealed to, "shall I assemble the men on deck?"
"Do so," replied Shandon.
The news of a communication from the captain soon spread, and the sailor needed no second summons to hear the mysterious letter. They listened to it in gloomy silence, but gave way to all sorts of wild conjectures, as they dispersed to their work. The superstitious Clifton ascribed everything, as usual, to the dog-captain, and said triumphantly: "Didn't I say that animal could write?"
From this day forward he always took care to touch his cap whenever he chanced to meet him about the ship. One thing was patent to the observation of anyone—the captain, or his ghost, was always watching over their doings, and prudent individuals began to think it advisable to keep quiet, and say as little about him as possible.
By observations taken at noon on the 1st of May, the longitude was found to be 32° and the latitude 68°. The temperature had risen, and the thermometer stood at 26° above zero.
The Doctor was on deck, amusing himself with the gambols of a white bear and her cubs, on a pack of ice frozen fast to the shore. He tried to capture her, with the assistance of Wall and Simpson; but the brute was evidently of a peaceable disposition, for she never showed fight at all, but scampered off with her progeny at full speed.
