But before ever commencing preparations for departure, Hatteras took the utmost pains to calculate the exact position of the Forward. This was a matter of the utmost importance, for otherwise it would be impossible to find the ship again after once leaving her. After much difficulty he succeeded in making an accurate reckoning, and went down again to compare it with his chart.
For a minute he looked as if stupefied, and then asked the Doctor if he knew the exact latitude when they had taken up winter quarters.
"Of course I do," was the reply. "It was 78° 15" latitude, and 95° 35" longitude."
"Well, then," returned Hatteras, in a low voice, our ice-field is drifting, we are two degrees farther north, and more to the west, and three hundred miles at least from your coal depot."
"And these poor fellows are not aware of it!" exclaimed the Doctor.
"Hush!" said Hatteras, laying his finger on his lips.
CHAPTER XXVII
PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
Captain Hatteras would not acquaint his men with the discovery he had made, and he was right, for there was no knowing into what excesses despair might have led them, had they felt themselves thus irresistibly dragged farther north.
To himself, however, the knowledge of the fact afforded the greatest joy. This was the first happy moment he had known for many long months; but not even to the Doctor did he speak of it, and he had such perfect self-control that his friend never suspected his hidden sentiments, though he sometimes wondered to himself what could make his eye so unusually bright.
By getting nearer the Pole, the Forward had got farther away from the coal-bed mentioned by Sir Edward Belcher, and instead of a hundred miles, it would be necessary to go back at least two hundred and fifty miles. However, after a short consultation with Clawbonny and Johnson, it was resolved to adhere to the project.
